PHYTOSTEROLS
Phytosterols are a mixture of plant-derived compounds in the sterol family. They are structurally similar to cholesterol, yet come from plants; well-known plant sterols include beta-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol.
PHYTOSTEROLS: what it is
Phytosterols are a mixture of plant-derived compounds in the sterol family. They are structurally similar to cholesterol, yet come from plants; well-known plant sterols include beta-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol.
On an ingredient list, PHYTOSTEROLS does not name one single molecule or one particular plant. The mixture can be isolated from plant raw materials and may contain different sterols, so the name alone does not reveal which oil, seed, or other plant source was used in a product.
PHYTOSTEROLS: what it does in cosmetics
In cosmetics, phytosterols are used for skin conditioning. In everyday terms, this means helping the skin feel softer and more comfortable to the touch, rather than cleansing it or removing dead skin cells.
Topical research on phytosterols exists, but it does not establish an independent result for every cream. A 2016 study tested soy phytosterols with niacinamide and delivery components in one formulation; the observed skin-barrier result belongs to that tested combination, not to phytosterols on their own.
Products containing this ingredient
See which products include it and the name used in each composition.
