Glyceryl Stearate
Safety Information
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) includes glyceryl stearate (also called glyceryl monostearate) in its list of direct food additives affirmed as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS).
Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety
The safety of glyceryl stearate and glyceryl stearate SE has been assessed by the Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety. The Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that glyceryl stearate and glyceryl stearate SE were safe for use in cosmetics and personal care products.
The Expert Panel reviewed chronic studies of glyceryl stearate that showed no adverse effects on reproduction and no carcinogenic effects.
Human exposure studies of products containing glyceryl stearate and glyceryl stearate SE, as well as clinical experience, have shown these compounds to be nonsensitizing, nonphototoxic and nonphotosensitizing.
If they are made from plants, glyceryl stearate and glyceryl stearate SE may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Regulation of the European Union.
Ingredients made from animal sources must comply with the European Union animal by-products regulations.
Resources
Glyceryl Stearate
What Is It?
Glyceryl stearate and glyceryl stearate SE are esterification products of glycerin and stearic acid. Glyceryl stearate is a white or cream-colored wax-like solid.
Glyceryl stearate SE is a “self-emulsifying” form of glyceryl stearate that also contains a small amount of sodium and or potassium stearate.
Why Is It Used?
Scientific Facts
Glyceryl stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid, a fatty acid obtained from animal and vegetable fats and oils.
Glyceryl stearate SE is produced by reacting an excess of stearic acid with glycerin.
The excess stearic acid is then reacted with potassium and/or sodium hydroxide yielding a product that contains glyceryl stearate as well as potassium stearate and/or sodium stearate.
Glyceryl stearate and glyceryl stearate SE are esterification products of glycerin and stearic acid.
Glyceryl Stearate is used as a skin conditioning agent – emollient and a surfactant – emulsifying agent in cosmetics and personal care products. It is also used to stabilize a product, decrease water evaporation, make the product freeze-resistant and keep it from forming surface crusts.
Glyceryl stearate reduces the greasiness of oils used in certain cosmetics and personal care products.
Glyceryl stearate SE is used as a surfactant – emulsifying agent. It needs no other auxiliary emulsifier to form a stable emulsion unlike glyceryl stearate, which requires a surfactant to yield a stable preparation.