Stearic Acid
A saturated fatty acid that functions both as a barrier lipid and an emulsifier. Common in cream bases.
Joins the ceramide-cholesterol-FFA lipid triad in the stratum corneum; emulsifies water and oil phases in cream formulas.
- Restores barrier FFA component
- Emulsifier
- Smooths texture
What the evidence supports.
- All skin types
No notable contraindications reported.
Later treatment or moisturiser step.
Concentration range in well-formulated products: 1%–10%
Year-round.
Cocoa butter, shea, animal fats.
No specific deficiency signals tracked for this ingredient.
Backbone of moisturiser cream bases.
The research behind Stearic Acid.
Every claim on this page traces to published research. Findings below are drawn from randomized trials and systematic reviews, each links to the study on PubMed.
Inflammation and Allergy Drug Targets, 2014
Cutis, 2006
No flagged conflicts. Still, patch-test new actives.
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