Stearyl Palmitate

What Is It?

Stearyl Heptanoate, Stearyl Caprylate, Stearyl Palmitate, Stearyl Stearate, Stearyl Behenate and Stearyl Olivate are waxy solid cosmetic ingredients with similar structures.

These ingredients are esters of stearyl alcohol and acids that differ only in the number of carbons in the chain. In cosmetics and personal care products, Stearyl Heptanoate, Stearyl Caprylate, Stearyl Palmitate, Stearyl Stearate, Stearyl Behenate and Stearyl Olivate may used in the formulation of bath products, eye makeup, lipsticks, rouges, and skin and hair care products.

Why Is It Used?

The following functions have been reported for Stearyl Heptanoate and the related ingredients:

  • Binder – Stearyl Palmitate
  • Emulsion stabilizer – Stearyl Palmitate
  • Hair conditioning agent – Stearyl Palmitate
  • Humectant – Stearyl Palmitate
  • Opacifying agent – Stearyl Palmitate
  • Skin-conditioning agent – emollient – Stearyl Olivate
  • Skin-conditioning agent – miscellaneous – Stearyl Palmitate
  • Skin-conditioning agent – occlusive – Stearyl Heptanoate, Stearyl Caprylate, Stearyl Stearate, Stearyl Behenate
  • Surfactant – emulsifying agent – Stearyl Olivate
  • Viscosity increasing agent – nonaqueous – Stearyl Stearate

 

Scientific Facts

Stearyl Heptanoate, Stearyl Caprylate, Stearyl Palmitate, Stearyl Stearate, Stearyl Behenate and Stearyl Olivate are the esters of stearyl alcohol and heptanoic acid, caprylic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, behenic acid and olive acid (fatty acids from olive oil), respectively. These ingredients are not soluble in water.

Safety Information

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permits Stearyl Palmitate and Stearyl Stearate to be used as indirect food additives in the production of some food packaging materials.

The safety of Stearyl Heptanoate, Stearyl Caprylate, Stearyl Palmitate, Stearyl Stearate, Stearyl Behenate and Stearyl Olivate has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel.

The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that these ingredients were safe for use as a cosmetic ingredient.

CIR Safety Review:

Based on the similarity of the structures of these six ingredients, the CIR Expert Panel determined that safety data on Stearyl Heptanoate and palmitic acid and stearic acid were sufficient to support the safety of Stearyl Heptanoate, Stearyl Caprylate, Stearyl Palmitate, Stearyl Stearate, Stearyl Behenate and Stearyl Olivate.

The CIR Expert Panel reviewed safety data on Stearyl Heptanoate indicating the potential for mild skin irritation. It was not a sensitizer. Undiluted Stearyl Heptanoate was an eye irritant, but a 1.5% solution produced no effects. Mutagenesis assays (bacteria and micronucleus test) were negative. Clinical data showed no evidence of irritation or sensitization or comedogenicity. Although sensitization studies were done at a low concentration compared with expected use concentrations, the data suggest that Stearyl Heptanoate would not be a sensitizer even at higher concentrations. Data on ocular irritation show only mild reactions to undiluted Stearyl Heptanoate, suggesting that expected use concentrations should not produce significant ocular irritation.

FDA: Link to Code of Federal Regulations for Stearyl Palmitate and Stearyl Stearate

If derived from plants, Stearyl Heptanoate, Stearyl Caprylate, Stearyl Palmitate, Stearyl Stearate, Stearyl Behenate and Stearyl Olivate 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.

ngredients of animal origin must comply with European Union animal by-products regulations.

Link to the EU Cosmetic Regulation: http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/consumers/product_labelling_and_packaging/co0013_en.htm

Resources

Find out more about the regulation of Food Additives by the Food and Drug Administration

Food Ingredients and Packaging: http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/default.htm

Food Contact Substances: http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/PackagingFCS/default.htm

Substances Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS): http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GRAS/default.htm

Search the Code of Federal Regulations http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm

EU Cosmetics Inventory http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/