murphyHydroxystearic Acid
AKA: 12-Hydroxystearic acid, 12-HYDROXYOCTADECANOIC ACID, 106-14-9, DL-12-Hydroxystearic acid, Cerit Fac 3, Hydrofol acid 200, Ceroxin GL, Barolub FTO, Loxiol G 21
Synthetic
Skin Conditioner
Synthetic
Clean
OriginTypically derived from coconut, palm kernel, or soybean oils as the primary starting material. Produced through catalytic hydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids to create the saturated hydroxystearic acid compound.
12-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid is a hydroxy fatty acid that is stearic acid bearing a hydroxy substituent at position 12. It has a role as a plant metabolite and a bacterial xenobiotic metabolite. It is a hydroxyoctadecanoic acid and a secondary alcohol. It is a conjugate acid of a 12-hydroxyoctadecanoate.
Solubility Soluble in alcohol, ether, chloroform; insoluble in water
Formula
C18H36O3
Mol. Weight
300.50
CAS #
106-14-9
Form
Liquid
State
Other Solid; Liquid; Dry Powder
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
Dryness
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
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.
Buffering
Removes Impurities
Emulsifier
Cleansing Surfactant
Mixes Oil & Water
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →
⚖️Regulatory0 listings
🛡️Safety-assessed3 reviews →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
EWG
1
CIR
Safe
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Sensitizer in Testing
1 study / 1 sensitizing / plus 2 case reports (CIR 777)
Skin Irritant in Testing
3 studies / 3 irritating / reactions moderate to severe (CIR 42 and 777)
Concentration Guide
Leave-on0.005–14%
Rinse-off0.00011–2%
0%50%100%
CIR reported use · 2016 survey
Regulatory Agencies
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR