ISOPROPYL STEARATE
Isopropyl stearate is the ingredient listed as ISOPROPYL STEARATE. It is an ester made by joining stearic acid and isopropyl alcohol, producing an oily-feeling substance used to carry oil-soluble components with a lighter spread on skin or hair.
ISOPROPYL STEARATE: what it is
Isopropyl stearate is the ingredient listed as ISOPROPYL STEARATE. It is an ester made by joining stearic acid and isopropyl alcohol, producing an oily-feeling substance used to carry oil-soluble components with a lighter spread on skin or hair.
Stearic acid supplies the long-chain portion that gives this ester its character, but isopropyl stearate is not the same ingredient as pure stearic acid. It is not isopropyl alcohol either: once the two are joined, they form a different molecule, better known for slip and spreadability than for the quick evaporation associated with that alcohol.
ISOPROPYL STEARATE: what it does in cosmetics
As an emollient, isopropyl stearate can help a cosmetic glide across the skin or hair and leave the surface feeling softer rather than rough. In creams, lotions, or hair products, that can make application feel more even and less tacky; it is not, by itself, a treatment for skin or hair.
It can also help hold together components in the oily part of a preparation. In use, that supports a continuous feel and texture. The available safety review considers it within a group of alkyl esters and the assessed use practices; it does not show that isopropyl stearate alone corrects dryness, discoloration, or any skin condition.
Products containing this ingredient
See which products include it and the name used in each composition.
