Steareth-4 Stearate is a chemical compound, the ester of Stearic Acid, carbon chains alkyl polyethylene glycol (PEG (Polyethylene glycol)) ether of ethoxylated fatty stearyl alcohol (4 mol), from palm kernel oils and coconut oils and fats.

Safety.

The term 'eth' refers to the ethoxylation reaction with ethylene oxide after which residues of ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, chemical compounds considered carcinogenic, may remain. The degree of safety therefore depends on the degree of purity of the compound obtained. At present, no manufacturer is known to provide this information on the label.

The number appearing after the name Steareth represents the molecular weight and the higher this number is, the less it penetrates the skin.

What it is used for and where

Cosmetics

Skin conditioning agent. An ingredient that is the mainstay of topical skin treatment by restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants.