Common Name(s): C40-60 alkyl stearate,c40-60 alkyl stearate,synthetic hydrocarbon emollient,non-polar skin conditioner
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides lightweight non-polar emollient conditioning with high spreading value and dry non-greasy skin feel.
Why It's Used: Synthetic hydrocarbon emollients provide precision spreading performance unavailable from natural oils — the defined carbon chain length and branching enabling targeted skin feel engineering.
How It Works: Alkyl chain length determines spreading coefficient and viscosity. branching reduces inter-chain van der waals packing, lowering viscosity and raising spreadability. complete hydrocarbon structure provides zero polarity for fastest-absorbing dry-touch emolliency.
Typically Found In: Skin care,colour cosmetics
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Functional ingredient – emollient
Secondary Functions: Barrier sealing,softening
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 1%–30%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Conditional - feedstock declaration required
Halal Status: Unverified - feedstock declaration required (plant, animal and petrochemical routes all exist)
Source Notes: Plant-derived, synthetic or animal-derived. verify source. [audit 2026-07-29 rev2: origin-dependent: the same inci exists in plant, animal and petrochemical versions and the name does not discriminate. determination requires shariah-panel sign-off.]
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 1/5 – low; formulation-dependent
Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.
Works Well With: Humectants,ceramides,actives as carrier
Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Synthetic hydrocarbon emollients provide superior oxidative stability versus natural plant oils — zero unsaturation preventing rancidity in long shelf-life formulations.
Last Verified: 2026-03-22
Primary Sources: Cosing database,c40-60 alkyl stearate synthetic hydrocarbon emollient review