Sodium Stearate

Benefits
Cleansing

What is Sodium Stearate?

Sodium stearate is the sodium salt of stearic acid, a saturated fatty acid typically sourced from vegetable oils like palm or coconut, or animal fats. This white, waxy solid forms through saponification, reacting stearic acid with sodium hydroxide. In cosmetics, it appears mainly in bar soaps, facial cleansers, body washes, and deodorants. It functions by reducing surface tension between water and oils, enabling dirt and sebum removal through micelle formation during rinsing. As an emulsifier, it stabilizes oil-water mixtures for smooth textures. It also controls viscosity to enhance product spreadability and stability, contributing to creamy lathers in cleansing formulations without synthetic additives.

Comedogenic Rating 0/5 Low risk of clogging pores
EWG Safety Rating 1 View on EWG →
PubChem View on PubChem →

Roles in Formulation

This ingredient serves the following purposes in cosmetic formulations:

Surfactant
Lowers surface tension to enable cleansing, emulsifying, and foaming; central to shampoos, body washes, and many emulsions and micellar systems.
Cleansing agent
Removes dirt, oil, and impurities by lowering surface tension and forming micelles, enabling soils to be lifted and rinsed away from skin, hair, or teeth.
Emulsifying agent
Enables stable mixing of oil and water phases by forming an interfacial film, helping create lotions, creams, and cleansers with consistent texture.
Viscosity controlling agent
Adjusts thickness to the desired level for stability and usability, improving dispensing, suspension, and texture across many formulation types.

Benefits

- Provides thorough cleansing by lifting oils and impurities from skin.

- Supports emulsification for stable, even-textured cleansers.

- Helps control product thickness for better application and feel.

Who It's For

A quick guide for who this ingredient may suit (and who should be cautious).

Who May Benefit Who Should Avoid
- People with normal to oily skin seeking reliable daily cleansing.
- Those with very dry or compromised skin barriers due to potential drying effects.
- Individuals preferring soap-based products with natural-derived surfactants.
- People sensitive to high-pH formulations common in traditional soaps.
- Users of bar soaps or deodorants needing foaming and emulsifying action.
- Individuals with known reactions to fatty acid salts.

Safety Notes

  • - Rated low hazard by safety assessments from cosmetic review panels.
  • - Suitable for rinse-off products at typical use levels.

Frequently Asked Questions about Sodium Stearate

What is sodium stearate made from?

It is produced by combining stearic acid from plant or animal fats with sodium hydroxide.

Is sodium stearate safe for skin?

Cosmetic safety evaluations deem it safe for use in rinse-off products.

Does it cause acne?

It has a comedogenic rating of zero, so it does not promote pore clogging.