Phytosterols

AKA: Plant sterols, Phytosterol complex

Synthetic

Skin Conditioner

Clean

Phytosterols is a complex mixture of sterols isolated from the higher plants

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.

Locks in moisture

Traditional Use

Plant-derived compounds used in traditional medicine systems for centuries as anti-inflammatory agents. Modern skincare adopted phytosterols in the late 20th century for their skin barrier-strengthening and cholesterol-reducing properties.

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-reviewed1 paper →

⚖️Regulatory1 listing →

🛡️Safety-assessed2 reviews →

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

Verified Jun 2026

Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR