SODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE
SODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE is an ingredient made by joining a long stearoyl portion to glutamate and neutralising it with sodium. This arrangement brings together one end that associates with oils and another that interacts more readily with water, which is useful in products designed to combine those two phases.
SODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE: what it is
SODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE is an ingredient made by joining a long stearoyl portion to glutamate and neutralising it with sodium. This arrangement brings together one end that associates with oils and another that interacts more readily with water, which is useful in products designed to combine those two phases.
It is also called sodium N-stearoyl L-glutamate. It is not the monosodium glutamate used in food: here, glutamate is bonded to a stearoyl chain, changing how the substance behaves and allowing it to be used in emulsions and cleansing products. Seeing SODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE on a label identifies that specific derivative rather than a simple glutamate salt.
SODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE: what it does in cosmetics
SODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE helps water and oily components stay more evenly distributed in a cream, lotion, or similar product. As an emulsifying surfactant, it works at the boundary between those parts; in practical terms, that can help keep the texture more uniform while the product is used. In rinse-off products, its cleansing role helps oily residues disperse in water.
It is also used for skin and hair conditioning. Here, conditioning means supporting a more pleasant feel and smoother application; it does not mean treatment for dryness, acne, or another skin condition. The ingredient alone does not determine a product's result, because its practical effect depends on the product type and the amount used.
SODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE: conditions and care
A clinical case report described allergic contact dermatitis linked to sodium stearoyl glutamate, with a positive patch test to the ingredient in a 1% aqueous solution. People with a previously identified contact allergy to this substance should avoid products that list it among their ingredients.
Products containing this ingredient
See which products include it and the name used in each composition.
