Have you ever read the ingredient deck on a bottle of lotion and wondered “What is stearic acid and why is it in this lotion?” You may even be wondering if you should be putting something with acid on your skin at all. You’re not alone, in fact, we get questions about ingredients every day, and stearic acid is one that comes up often.
What Purpose does Stearic Acid Serve in Formulations?
Stearic Acid is used to thicken and stabilize formulations with a recommended usage rate of 1% to 25%. It gives formulations a smooth, satiny feel making it a great ingredient choice for cremes and lotions.
Not Your Typical Acid
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid with a long hydrocarbon chain. Fatty acids, such as stearic acid, are found in marine and freshwater organisms, bacteria, and vegetable oils and animal fats. While it is technically an acid because it has a pH of about 6, it is not at all the same as a strong, tissue dissolving acid like hydrochloric acid with a pH of zero. To put this into perspective, water typically sits at a pH of about 7, so stearic acid is slightly more acidic than water.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) Expert Panel reports that topical application of stearic acid to the skin produced little or no apparent toxicity. Further studies using formulations containing stearic acid at concentrations up to 13% indicate that it is neither an irritant, sensitizer nor photosensitizing agent. Good news! It won’t irritate your skin or cause your skin to become sensitized. Try making your own lotion using the recipe below and enjoy!
Orange Blossom Lotion
Ingredients
Orange Blossom Distillate | 1lb | 47% | http://ewlnatur.al/orangeblossom |
Deionized Water | 0.54lb | 25.2% | http://ewlnatur.al/water |
Sorbitol | 0.08 | 4% | http://ewlnatur.al/sorbitol |
Xanthan Gum | 0.006lb | 0.3% | http://ewlnatur.al/xanthangum |
Golden Jojoba Oil | 0.2lb | 9% | http://ewlnatur.al/jojoba |
Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Sorbitan Olivate | 0.1lb | 5% | http://ewlnatur.al/oliwax |
Glyceryl Stearate SE | 0.08lb | 4% | http://ewlnatur.al/glyceryl |
Stearic Acid | 0.03lb | 1% | http://ewlnatur.al/stearicacid |
Kokum Butter | 0.06lb | 3% | http://ewlnatur.al/kokum |
Caprylhydroxamic Acid (and) Glyceryl Caprylate (and) Glycerin | 0.02lb | 1% | http://ewlnatur.al/ob5f2 |
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate | 0.01lb | 0.5% | http://ewlnatur.al/tdg |
Directions
WATER PHASE
Weigh and add the following ingredients to a large mixing bowl –
1LB Orange Blossom Distillate
0.54 LB Deionized Water
0.08 LB Sorbitol
Slowly add Xanthan Gum, it’s best to sprinkle over the surface of water very slowly, to hydrate the Gum before mixing with your stick blender.
0.006LB Xanthan Gum
Use your stick blender to mix VERY thoroughly and set aside
OIL PHASE
Place the following ingredients in a pot or microwave safe container and heat until completely melted or to 170 degrees.
0.2 LB Golden Jojoba Oil
0.1 LB Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Sorbitan Olivate
0.08 LB Glyceryl Stearate SE
0.03 LB Stearic Acid
0.06 LB Kokum Butter
Slowly add the melted ingredients to the Water Phase ingredients while mixing – be sure to use your stick blender mixing all of the ingredients while adding Oil Phase ingredients to Water Phase ingredients. Continue to mix until all ingredients are fully blended, and your lotion is fully emulsified.
Once your lotion is cooled to 110F – Add the following Preservatives and mix thoroughly.
0.02 LB Caprylhydroxamic Acid (and) Glyceryl Caprylate (and) Glycerin
0.01 LB Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Package your new Orange Blossom Lotion in your favorite bottles, label and give as gifts, add to your product line or enjoy at home!