Tall Oil Sterol

AKA: Tall oil phytosterol, Plant sterol from tall oil
Plant-Derived
Emollient
Skin Conditioner
Not Clean
Sterols, tall-oil
CAS #
8002-26-4
Form
Oil
Functions
Refatting
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
Tall oil, a byproduct from wood pulp manufacture, emerged as a commercial product in early 20th-century Scandinavia. The sterol fraction was later incorporated into cosmetics as an emollient and conditioning agent starting in the latter half of the 20th century.
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USApermitted
EUrestricted
JAPANrestricted
CANADArestricted
Skin Types
all-skin-types
Best For
Dryness
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewednone on file
⚖️Regulatory1 listing
🛡️Safety-assessed1 review
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR