POLYGLYCERYL-6 STEARATE
POLYGLYCERYL-6 STEARATE, also called polyglyceryl-6 stearate, is an ester made by joining a polyglycerol portion with stearic acid. On an ingredient list, the name points to this fatty formulation ingredient; it is not free stearic acid or a whole vegetable oil.
POLYGLYCERYL-6 STEARATE: what it is
POLYGLYCERYL-6 STEARATE, also called polyglyceryl-6 stearate, is an ester made by joining a polyglycerol portion with stearic acid. On an ingredient list, the name points to this fatty formulation ingredient; it is not free stearic acid or a whole vegetable oil.
Hexaglycerin monostearate appears as a chemical synonym in chemical databases. The stearic-acid portion gives the compound its lipid-like character, while the polyglycerol portion sets it apart from simpler stearates. That combination helps explain why it can appear in products designed to leave skin feeling softer.
POLYGLYCERYL-6 STEARATE: what it does in cosmetics
In cosmetics, POLYGLYCERYL-6 STEARATE is used as an emollient. In everyday terms, an emollient helps reduce the feel of roughness and can make the skin surface feel smoother. It may therefore be included in creams, lotions, or similar products intended to feel more comfortable during application.
The expected benefit is about skin feel and surface conditioning, not treatment of a skin condition. Clinical background on emollients describes how this category can fill spaces between surface skin cells and contribute to a softer feel; that explains the category's purpose, but it does not measure the performance of POLYGLYCERYL-6 STEARATE alone in every product.
Products containing this ingredient
See which products include it and the name used in each composition.
