A saturated fatty acid used to build cream texture and support emulsions or soap systems.
Sources: 1Octadecanoic acid
Not assessed
No pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific assessment has been completed for this record. A cosmetic safety review is not a pregnancy rating.
Not assessed
Stearic Acid
What it does
Adds consistency and can contribute to skin feel. It is not an exfoliating acid like glycolic acid despite sharing the word acid.
Sources: 1Good for
- Cream consistency
- Emulsion structure
How to use it
Use as part of the finished cream or lotion; emulsifiers have no separate application schedule.
Sources: 1Who should be careful
Tolerance depends on the finished product, especially whether it is a cream or an alkaline soap. A label alone does not support a universal pore-clogging rating.
Sources: 1Pairs well with
No supported pairings have been documented for this record.
Usage, safety and formulation details
Mechanism of action
The long hydrocarbon chain contributes to lipid structure; neutralization with a suitable base can produce stearate soaps.
Sources: 1Potential adverse effects
Irritation or intolerance must be assessed for the whole formula; a raw-material rating does not predict every user's response.
Sources: 1Formulation considerations
Purity, fatty-acid distribution, neutralization and crystallization affect consistency, pH and cleansing behavior.
Sources: 1Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Not assessed
No pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific assessment has been completed for this record. A cosmetic safety review is not a pregnancy rating.
Safety tags
- Fragrance allergen
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- Essential oil
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- Drying alcohol
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- May irritate sensitive skin
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
What remains uncertain
- Exact concentration, final pH and the full composition of any unprovided finished product
Clinical evidence and research
Clinical evidence
Evidence for its main benefitNot assessed
The cited references support identity, formulation role or safety context. No standalone clinical efficacy rating has been completed for the main benefit in this draft.
Sources: 1Regulation and ingredient label names
Regulatory information
No jurisdiction-specific assessment is recorded. An inventory listing is not blanket approval.
Names on ingredient lists
stearic acid
Chemical identity and molecular structure
Chemical information
Chemical structure
| Detail | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PubChem CID | 5281 | PubChem compound 5281: chemical identity |
| molecular formula | C18H36O2 | PubChem compound 5281: chemical identity |
| molecular weight | 284.5 g/mol | PubChem compound 5281: chemical identity |
Content updated 9 November 2026.
Sources (2)
Scientific sources
- CIR: Stearic acid assessment recordsafety assessment
- PubChem compound 5281: chemical identitychemical identity
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