Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Often used to coat mineral sunscreen active ingredients to help them disperse evenly | Other roles in skin care include emulsion stabilizer, film-former, and texture-enhancing thickener
At a glance
Addresses
EWG Safety Score
What Is Polyhydroxystearic Acid?
Polyhydroxystearic acid plays various roles in cosmetic formulas, including functioning as a suspending agent, emulsion stabilizer, film-former, and texture-enhancing thickener. This plant-derived or synthetic ingredient is often used to coat mineral sunscreen actives to help them disperse evenly. Suppliers of polyhydroxystearic acid also claim that it helps increase UV absorption and can reduce the white cast that titanium dioxide and zinc oxide leave behind.
In makeup, polyhydroxystearic acid helps pigments distribute more cohesively. In lotions and creams, it adds emolliency. As a raw material, polyhydroxystearic acid is described as a soft, pliable wax that is light tan to brown in color, derived from castor oil.
Clinical Evidence & References
Published Research
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Making Cosmetics, Accessed October 2021, ePublication [https://www.makingcosmetics.com/WAX-PHSA-01.html?lang=en_US]
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Cosmetics Business, April 2016, ePublication [https://cosmeticsbusiness.com/what-s-new-in-sun-care-filters-and-ingredients--117682]
How widely it's used
Regulatory information
Standardised cosmetic-ingredient identifiers used by regulators.
Show identifiers
- INCI Name
- POLYHYDROXYSTEARIC ACID
- EC Number
- - / -
- Function
- Emulsifying
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