Sucrose Polystearate
A mild emulsifier from sugar and a fatty acid. It blends oil and water and gives a soft texture. Suits sensitive skin.
Supporting ingredient
It gives a product its texture, stability or shelf life. It has no claimed effect on the skin, so an efficacy tier does not apply. What is known about its safety is below
Tolerability and safety
- Irritation potential
- Low
- Allergen risk
- Low
- Pregnancy
- Safe
- Suitable for
- Normal, Dry, Combination, Oily, Sensitive
About this ingredient
Sucrose Polystearate is a mild emulsifier made from sugar and a fatty (stearic) acid, listed in INCI under the same name. In a formula it joins oil and water and gives a creamy, delicate texture. It is popular in products aimed at sensitive skin. This is a functional component, not a skincare active. It gives the cream stability and a pleasant feel, but it does not correct wrinkles or pigmentation through its own mechanism. Its value is in making formulas gentle and well tolerated. Applied topically it has no systemic relevance, so it can be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Tolerance is very good, with low irritation and allergy potential, and it suits sensitive skin. Its comedogenicity is minimal at level 1, so acne-prone skin usually handles it without trouble.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sucrose Polystearate safe during pregnancy?
Sucrose Polystearate is considered safe during pregnancy at typical cosmetic concentrations. Systemic absorption through the skin is minimal.
What skin types is Sucrose Polystearate for?
Sucrose Polystearate suits: normal, dry, combination, oily, sensitive.
What is Sucrose Polystearate and what does it do in cosmetics?
A mild emulsifier from sugar and a fatty acid.
Is Sucrose Polystearate comedogenic?
On the Fulton scale 1/5 – very low comedogenicity. For acne-prone skin, a rating of 3 or higher suggests choosing an alternative.
What's the INCI name for Sucrose Polystearate?
The INCI name is Sucrose Polystearate.
See Sucrose Polystearate in a product composition right on the store page
The Evigrade extension adds an evidence panel to iHerb, Sephora, Druni and 12 more stores. This ingredient and every other one in the product show evidence-tier, allergen risk and pregnancy/lactation flags at a glance.
Similar role in the formula
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