C20-40 Alkyl Stearate

Plant-Derived

Skin Conditioner

Plant Oil

Clean

C20-40 Alkyl Stearate is the ester of C20-40 alcohols and stearic acid

CAS #

222722-15-8

Form

Liquid

Functions

Skin Conditioning

A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.

Viscosity Controlling

Locks in moisture

Traditional Use

A synthetic fatty acid ester created for cosmetic formulations in the mid-20th century. Used to provide emollient properties and improve the spreadability of creams and lotions.

EWG

CIR

Safe as used

Pregnancy

Yes

CIR Safety Findings

Not a Sensitizer

ewg-1

medical-approval

pregnancy-nursing-safe

all-shades-safe

Regulatory Status

USA✔ permitted

EU⚠ restricted

JAPAN⚠ restricted

CANADA⚠ restricted

Regulatory Agencies

EWG CIR FDA EU COSING Health Canada

Skin Types

●all-skin-types, gentle

Best For

Dryness

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe

Yes

The paper trail

🔬Peer-reviewednone on file

⚖️Regulatory1 listing →

🛡️Safety-assessed3 reviews →

Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.

Verified Jun 2026

Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR