Stearoyl Glutamic Acid

What is Stearoyl Glutamic Acid?

Stearoyl Glutamic Acid is an anionic surfactant synthesized from L-glutamic acid, an amino acid, and stearic acid, a fatty acid derived from plant or animal sources. It belongs to the acyl glutamate family, prized in cosmetics for its biodegradable and skin-friendly profile. Commonly found in facial cleansers, shampoos, body washes, and hair conditioners, it works by reducing surface tension to create stable foam, lift dirt and oils into micelles for easy rinsing, and deposit a light conditioning film. This dual cleansing-conditioning action makes it ideal for mild, rinse-off formulations, helping maintain the skin's natural moisture barrier and hair's smoothness without harsh stripping effects typical of stronger surfactants.

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:

Hair conditioning
Improves softness, shine, and manageability by reducing friction and static; commonly achieved with cationic agents, silicones, oils, or conditioning polymers.
Skin conditioning agent
Maintains skin softness, smoothness, and flexibility.
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.

Benefits

Provides gentle cleansing that removes impurities while preserving natural oils.

Enhances skin and hair softness, smoothness, and manageability.

Supports formulation of low-irritation, foaming products suitable for daily use.

Who It's For

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

Who May Benefit Who Should Avoid
Individuals with sensitive or dry skin seeking mild cleansers.
Those with known allergies to glutamic acid or stearic acid derivatives.
People looking for conditioning shampoos that reduce frizz and static.
People sensitive to anionic surfactants, though rare with this mild type.
Users preferring eco-friendly, biodegradable surfactants in personal care.
Individuals preferring completely non-foaming, minimalist products.

Safety Notes

  • Rated low hazard by EWG, indicating high safety in cosmetics.
  • Deemed safe for use in rinse-off products by cosmetic safety reviews.

Frequently Asked Questions about Stearoyl Glutamic Acid

What is Stearoyl Glutamic Acid?

An amino acid-based surfactant from glutamic and stearic acids, used for mild foaming and conditioning in cleansers and shampoos.

Is it safe for sensitive skin?

Yes, it has a low hazard rating and is known for gentle, non-irritating cleansing properties.

Does it cause breakouts?

It has a comedogenic rating of 0, making it unlikely to clog pores.