Stearyl Citrate

AKA: 1337-33-3, 1, 2, 3-Propanetricarboxylic acid, Octadecyl ester, Monostearyl citrate, MONOSTEARYL CITRATE (II), MONOSTEARYL CITRATE [II], RIKESTER EW 90, RIKEMAL EW 90, INS NO.484
Plant-Derived
Emollient
Skin Conditioner
Chemical Exfoliant
Plant Oil
Clean
1,2,3-Propanetricarboxylic acid, 2-hydroxy-, octadecyl ester
Effective at 6.0%
Formula
C24H42O7-2
Mol. Weight
442.60
CAS #
1337-33-3
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.
Emollient
Fills in the tiny cracks between skin cells to make everything feel smooth and soft. The "silky finish" ingredient.
Locks In Moisture
Traditional Use
Created as a chelating agent combining stearyl alcohol with citric acid derivatives. Developed to improve formulation stability and provide mild antioxidant benefits in cosmetics.
EWG
1
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
5e-06%
12.0%
0%100%
Reported use
CIR reported use: 0.002-0.6 | 0.000005-10 | 0.007-12
Regulatory Status
USApermitted
EUrestricted
JAPANrestricted
CANADArestricted
Skin Types
all-skin-types
Best For
General
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: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR