murphySteartrimonium Bromide
AKA: 1120-02-1, Octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, CATINAL STB, ODTEA Br cpd
Plant-Derived
Preservative
Skin Conditioner
Hair Care
Not Clean
OriginDerived from stearyl alcohol and quaternary ammonium compounds, typically sourced synthetically from petroleum or plant-based alcohols. Synthesized through quaternization of stearyl dimethylamine with methyl bromide or hydrobromic acid.
Trimethyloctadecylammonium bromide
Formula
C21H46BrN
Mol. Weight
392.50
CAS #
1120-02-1
Form
Liquid
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
Functions
Antistatic
Hair Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Preservative
Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.
Reduces Static
Conditions Hair
Preserves Formula
Reduces flyaways
Softens and detangles hair
Prevents microbial growth
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewednone on file
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed2 reviews →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
EWG
3
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
Concentration Guide
0%50%100%
Reg. limit 0.1%
CIR lists it as not reported to be in use.
CIR · report published 2012
EU regulatory limit: 0.1%. Source: EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Annex V (Preservatives), Entry 44.
Regulatory Agencies
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR