GLYCERYL STEARATE

📋 Quick facts

Description: GLYCERYL STEARATE — emulsifier, emollient.

All Functions: emulsifier, emollient

Quick Facts:

• Category: emollient

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• A skin-conditioning agent that works as an emollient (moisturizer) and/or emulsifier in cosmetics
• Generally recognized as safe in cosmetics at typical use concentrations
• Not irritating, sensitizing, or photosensitizing at concentrations used in products
• Breaks down in the body into free fatty acids and glycerol
• Used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 12% according to industry data

⚗️ Chemical Overview

1-monostearoylglycerol is a 1-monoglyceride that has stearoyl as the acyl group. It has a role as a Caenorhabditis elegans metabolite and an algal metabolite. Glycerol monostearate, commonly known as GMS, is the glycerol ester of stearic acid . It is commonly used as an emulsifier in foods. 1-Octadecanoyl-rac-glycerol is a metabolite found in or produced by Escherichia coli (strain K12, MG1655).

Source(s): E. coli Metabolome Database (ECMDB), ChEBI, DrugBank, via PubChem

📊 Comedogenicity

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

Derived from this ingredient’s irritancy potential and comedogenicity rating against the needs of each skin type — e.g. oily and acne-prone skin are marked down for pore-clogging ingredients, sensitive skin for irritants. A starting heuristic, not a dermatological verdict.

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Glyceryl Stearate is a glyceryl monoester—a molecule made by combining glycerol (a simple sugar alcohol) with stearic acid (a fatty acid). It belongs to a larger family of glyceryl esters that are widely used in skincare and cosmetics. #1: Function as skin conditioning: Glyceryl Stearate primarily works as an emollient, meaning it helps soften and smooth skin, and as an emulsifying agent, which helps blend oil and water-based ingredients together in products (Int J Toxicol, 2004). This makes it useful in lotions, creams, and other formulations. #2: Safety profile in cosmetics: According to a comprehensive safety assessment, glyceryl monoesters including Glyceryl Stearate are safe as used in cosmetics at current concentrations.

Undiluted forms may cause minor skin irritation, especially on damaged skin, but at the concentrations actually used in products, these ingredients are not irritating (Int J Toxicol, 2004). The ingredient is not a skin sensitizer and is not a photosensitizer. #3: How the body processes it: When absorbed, Glyceryl Stearate is metabolized (broken down) into free fatty acids and glycerol—both natural substances your body can use for various functions, including resynthesis of triglycerides (Int J Toxicol, 2004). #4: Eye safety: Glyceryl Stearate was not classified as an ocular irritant in rabbit studies, suggesting it is unlikely to cause significant eye irritation (Int J Toxicol, 2004).

#5: Potential in novel applications: Research has explored Glyceryl Stearate in composite formulations with cassava starch for temperature-regulating products. These composites were found to have a pH safe for skin contact and stable moisture content, though this represents emerging research rather than current cosmetic use (Int J Biol Macromol, 2024). The available sources focus primarily on safety assessments rather than efficacy claims, so benefits beyond skin conditioning and emulsification are not documented in these references.

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Unknown authors (2004). Final report of the amended safety assessment of Glyceryl Laurate, Glyceryl Laurate SE, Glyceryl Laurate/Oleate, Glyceryl Adipate, Glyceryl Alginate, Glyceryl Arachidate, Glyceryl Arachidonate, Glyceryl Behenate, Glyceryl Caprate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Caprylate/Caprate, Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate, Glyceryl Cocoate, Glyceryl Collagenate, Glyceryl Erucate, Glyceryl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Glyceryl Hydrogenated Soyate, Glyceryl Hydroxystearate, Glyceryl Isopalmitate, Glyceryl Isostearate, Glyceryl Isostearate/Myristate, Glyceryl Isostearates, Glyceryl Lanolate, Glyceryl Linoleate, Glyceryl Linolenate, Glyceryl Montanate, Glyceryl Myristate, Glyceryl Isotridecanoate/Stearate/Adipate, Glyceryl Oleate SE, Glyceryl Oleate/Elaidate, Glyceryl Palmitate, Glyceryl Palmitate/Stearate, Glyceryl Palmitoleate, Glyceryl Pentadecanoate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Glyceryl Rosinate, Glyceryl Sesquioleate, Glyceryl/Sorbitol Oleate/Hydroxystearate, Glyceryl Stearate/Acetate, Glyceryl Stearate/Maleate, Glyceryl Tallowate, Glyceryl Thiopropionate, and Glyceryl Undecylenate. Int J Toxicol.
• Unknown authors (2007). Amended final report on the safety assessment of glyceryl dilaurate, glyceryl diarachidate, glyceryl dibehenate, glyceryl dierucate, glyceryl dihydroxystearate, glyceryl diisopalmitate, glyceryl diisostearate, glyceryl dilinoleate, glyceryl dimyristate, glyceryl dioleate, glyceryl diricinoleate, glyceryl dipalmitate, glyceryl dipalmitoleate, glyceryl distearate, glyceryl palmitate lactate, glyceryl stearate citrate, glyceryl stearate lactate, and glyceryl stearate succinate. Int J Toxicol.
• Punyanitya S et al. (2024). Preparation and characterization of glyceryl stearate/cassava starch composite for wax therapy. Int J Biol Macromol.
• Johnson W Jr et al. (2001). Final report on the safety assessment of trilaurin, triarachidin, tribehenin, tricaprin, tricaprylin, trierucin, triheptanoin, triheptylundecanoin, triisononanoin, triisopalmitin, triisostearin, trilinolein, trimyristin, trioctanoin, triolein, tripalmitin, tripalmitolein, triricinolein, tristearin, triundecanoin, glyceryl triacetyl hydroxystearate, glyceryl triacetyl ricinoleate, and glyceryl stearate diacetate. Int J Toxicol.
• de Groot AC et al. (1988). Cosmetic allergy from stearic acid and glyceryl stearate. Contact Dermatitis.

🧴 Products Containing GLYCERYL STEARATE

• aldo Vandini SENSUAL Aroma Handbalsam Hand Cream Tamarinde & Ingwer
• Eucerin Lotion Sun Protection kids SPF 50+
• Beierdorf, Nivea Naturally good crema giorno idratante
• Eucerin pH5
• Nivea Men NIVEA Men Active Energy Hydraterende Dagcrème
• Nivea Body lotion
• Nivea Nivea Intensive Moisture Body Milk 5-in-1 Complete Care (or Nivea Nourishing Body Milk)
• Nivea Sun Pflegende Sonnenmilch – LSF 50+ Sehr Hoch
• Eucerin Sun Allergy Protect
• Nivea Men Sensitive Shower Gel Soothing + Bamboo Extract
• nivea nivea cream
• Nivea Body Beruhigende After Shave Creme for women, Mit Panthenol
• Nivéa Nivea soft
• Nivea, Nivea Men NIVEA MEN sensitive peau sensible
• Nivea Q10 Plus Soin de jour FPS 15
• BRYNILD GRUPPEN AS Nivea Men Body & Face Cream 150ml
• Nivea Sun kids Lait protecteur Protect & Sensitive
• Nivea NIVEA CREME DARK SPOT REDUCTION
• BRYNILD GRUPPEN AS Nivea Night Care Cellular 50ml
• Nivea Baby sun Crème solaire très haute protection FPS 50+
• nivea protector solar
• Nivea crème solaire visage nivea
• Nivea Sun Kids Lait Protecteur Format Voyage
• Nivea NIVEA Sun Protect & Hydrate SPF30 Zonnebrandspray
• Nivea NIVEA Sun Protect & Hydrate SPF50+ Zonnebrandspray
• Nivea body lotion
• Nivea Sun Protect & Moisture, SPF15
• BRYNILD GRUPPEN AS Nivea Day Care Q10 Plus C 50ml
• Nivea sun Crème Visage Solaire Anti-Rides UV Q10 FPS 50
• Nivea, Nivea Sun Protect & Bronze 50
• NIVEA kids sensitive protect
• Beiersdorf, Hidrofugal Classic Deo Creme
• Eucerin Oil control
• BRYNILD GRUPPEN AS Nivea Day Care Naturally Good 50ml
• nivea natural balance tagespflege
• Nivea nivea bronze efect
• Nivea Natturally good anti-age
• Nivea Naturally Good Avena Naturale Nutriente
• NIVEA Sun,NIVEA babies & kids sensitive protect 50+
• Schaebens Feuchtigkeits Maske