As you look at the labels of your favorite skincare products, certain ingredients may pop up again and again—like stearic acid! This ingredient is found in a wide array of skin and body care products, and for good reason: It has a host of benefits that range from moisturizing to cleansing. 

But, you might be wondering: Is it right for your skin? Here, our licensed dermatology providers explain everything you need to know about stearic acid in skincare, to help you make an informed decision for your skin. 

What is stearic acid?

Stearic acid is a saturated long-chain fatty acid.¹ It is one of many different long-chain fatty acids and oils in your skin—others include palmitic acid and linoleic acid.²

You can find stearic acid in plant fats such as shea butter and coconut oil.³ However, it is also in animal fats.⁴ 

The word, “stearic” comes from the Greek word “stear,” which means tallow or animal fat.⁵ It also has alternative names that you may see on a product label.⁶ These names include magnesium stearate, zinc stearate, octadecanoic acid, cetylacetic acid, and vanicol, among others.⁷ 

Benefits of stearic acid in skincare products

Stearic acid provides a wide variety of potential skin benefits, making it a good fit for many different products. That’s why you can find it in soaps, moisturizers and body lotions, face cleansers, hair care products, and even cosmetic products.⁸ Here are some of its main benefits:

Cleansing

Stearic acid is a surfactant,⁹ meaning that it decreases the surface tension of oils. An indirect benefit of this is that it can act as an alternative to sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). While SLS is used to remove oil, it may lead to dehydrated and irritated skin.¹⁰ SLS is also potentially pore-clogging. But you may be able to decrease your risk of those side effects if you use products with an ingredient such as stearic acid instead.

Softening and healing

It is an emollient, meaning that it can help to soften your skin.¹¹ It’s also known to have anti-inflammatory properties.¹² Also, certain formulas containing stearic acid appear to help wound healing.¹³

Influencing product properties 

Stearic acid is an emulsifier, meaning that it helps water-based and oil-based ingredients mix.¹⁴ It also may improve the thickness of skincare products.¹⁵

Potential risks of stearic acid in skincare

It is classified by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) as generally safe (or GRAS).¹⁶ After all, as mentioned before, it is in a variety of food products such as animal fat or vegetable fats like coconut oil. But keep in mind that it has some potential risks.

It may cause irritated skin

Pure stearic acid may irritate the skin and respiratory (breathing) tract and may also irritate the eyes.¹⁷ 

An expert review panel concluded that stearic acid is generally safe when used as part of properly formulated personal care products.¹⁸ However, everyone’s skin is different, so it’s best to see a dermatology provider if you experience skin irritation after using a product with stearic acid.

Stearic acid is in some products that cause skin problems

Stearic acid is in coconut oil.¹⁹ Coconut oil²⁰ is known to be comedogenic—aka pore-clogging, so it’s best to avoid it (coconut oil), especially if you have acne-prone skin. There are better ways to incorporate stearic acid into your skincare routine! While it may be tempting to focus on just one ingredient in a product, it’s best to consider the entire product.

Stearic acid may be mistaken for ingredients that may cause acne

Stearic acid sounds similar to isostearic acid but these molecules are different. Isostearic acid is known to be comedogenic, which means it may contribute to acne.²¹ Some ingredients have similar names but cause significantly different effects on your skin. 

Tips for using stearic acid skincare products

If you’re looking to try out stearic acid, here are some tips to keep in mind:

1. Choose skincare products that don’t contain cocoa butter or coconut oil. Instead, look for products sourced from shea butter. 

2. Use the product only as directed on the label, or as advised by your licensed dermatology provider.

3. Begin by using a small amount of the product. See how your skin tolerates it and check with your dermatology provider if you experience irritated skin.

4. Keep in mind that everyone’s situation is different. So check with your dermatology provider if you have any concerns or questions.

Getting answers about skincare

With all of the different ingredients in skincare products to keep track of, it’s normal to have a lot of questions. But skincare doesn’t need to be complicated. 

At Curology, we believe that everyone deserves simple and personalized skincare solutions. Curology was founded in 2014 to provide accessible dermatology care.

Get your personalized skincare routine with Curology

Get your personalized skincare routine with Curology

Start your skin quiz

Today, our team of licensed dermatology providers can prescribe formulas with clinically proven ingredients that help patients with a variety of skin concerns. These include acne, fine lines, dark spots, and rosacea, among others. Our personalized formulas take the guesswork out of skincare so you can focus on enjoying life.

Not a Curology member yet? Sign up for a trial today!*

P.S. We did our homework so you don’t have to:

1. PubChem. Stearic Acid. (2023, April 29).

2. Moore, E.M., et al. The enigma of bioactivity and toxicity of botanical oils for skin care. Frontiers in Pharmacology. (2020, May 29).

3. PubChem. Stearic Acid. Ibid.

4. PubChem. Stearic Acid. Ibid.

5. Merriam-Webster. Stearic. (n.d.).

6. PubChem. Stearic Acid. Ibid.

7. PubChem. Stearic Acid. Ibid.

8. PubChem. Stearic Acid. Ibid.

9. PubChem. Stearic Acid. Ibid.

10. Goh, C.-L., et al. Expert consensus on holistic skin care routine: focus on acne, rosacea, atopic dermatitis, and sensitive skin syndrome. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. (2022, November 21).

11. Kang, S.-Y., et al. Moisturizer in patients with inflammatory skin diseases. Medicina. (2022, July 1).

12. PubChem. Stearic Acid. Ibid.

13. Silva, J.M., et al. Therapeutic role of deep eutectic solvents based on menthol and saturated fatty acids on wound healing. Applied Bio Materials. (2019, August 26).

14. Supriadi, Y. and Khoirin, N. Formulation and evaluation of grape seed oil (vitis vinifera, l) facial cream with variations in the concentration of stearic acid as an emulsifier. Journal of Health Sciences and Medical Development. (2022, August 1).

15. Supriadi, Y. and Khoirin, N. Formulation and evaluation of grape seed oil (vitis vinifera, l) facial cream with variations in the concentration of stearic acid as an emulsifier. Journal of Health Sciences and Medical Development. Ibid.

16. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Code of Federal Regulations Title 21. (2023, March 28).

17. PubChem. Stearic Acid. Ibid.

18. Bergfeld, W.F., et al. Safety assessment of fatty acids & fatty acid salts as used in cosmetics. Cosmetic Ingredient Review. (2019, May 15).

19. PubChem. Stearic Acid. Ibid.

20. Gala, M.Y., et al. Evaluation of comedogenic potential of a paraben-free plant-based butter moisturizing cream: a double-blind, comparative study. CosmoDerma. (2021, October 7).

21. Bergfeld, W.F., et al. Safety assessment of fatty acids & fatty acid salts as used in cosmetics. Cosmetic Ingredient Review. Ibid.

22. Supriadi, Y. and Khoirin, N. Formulation and evaluation of grape seed oil (vitis vinifera, l) facial cream with variations in the concentration of stearic acid as an emulsifier. Journal of Health Sciences and Medical Development. Ibid.

23. PubChem. Stearic Acid. Ibid.

24. PubChem. Stearic Acid. Ibid.

25. Cosmetic Ingredient Review. Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Oleic Acid, Laurie Acid, Palmitic Acid, Myristic Acid, and Stearic Acid. Journal of the American College of Toxicology. (1987, n.d.).

Erin Pate is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner at Curology. She earned her Masters of Science in Nursing at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL.

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Written by

Curology Team

Medically reviewed by

Erin Pate, NP-C