ZINC STEARATE
Zinc Stearate is a salt made from stearic acid and zinc. Stearic acid is a fatty acid; when it is combined with zinc, it forms a solid material used mainly in dry formulas and powder cosmetics rather than an oil or plant extract meant to be applied directly to the skin.
ZINC STEARATE: what it is
Zinc Stearate is a salt made from stearic acid and zinc. Stearic acid is a fatty acid; when it is combined with zinc, it forms a solid material used mainly in dry formulas and powder cosmetics rather than an oil or plant extract meant to be applied directly to the skin.
The name can be confused with other zinc ingredients, such as zinc oxide, but it does not refer to the same substance. Here, the stearic part is part of the salt, so seeing Zinc Stearate on an ingredient list mainly points to how a powder behaves during manufacture and application, not to a source of zinc for skin care.
ZINC STEARATE: what it does in cosmetics
In makeup and other powder cosmetics, Zinc Stearate helps keep particles from clumping and improves slip. In practical terms, that can make a powder feel looser, spread more easily and drag less during application. It can also help adjust the mixture's consistency and contribute to the product's colour appearance.
Those uses concern the formula's texture and finish, not a skin treatment. A published safety assessment included Zinc Stearate, but it brought together different stearate salts and study models; it does not show that Zinc Stearate on its own treats acne, dark spots, wrinkles or any other skin condition.
Restrictions and conditions of use
Products containing this ingredient
See which products include it and the name used in each composition.
