The ingredient, explained

Cholesterol

A published expert safety assessment covers the exact ingredient in the specified exposure context.

EmollientEmulsifyingSkin conditioningStabilisingViscosity controlling

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Ingredient guide

What it is and what it does

Cholest-5-en-3-ol -beta--

About this ingredient: EU CosIng ingredient registry (via Open Beauty Facts taxonomy) ↗

Emollient: Helps soften and smooth the skin surface.
Emulsifying: Helps liquids that do not normally mix form a mixture.
Skin conditioning: A broad cosmetic role for maintaining skin condition. It does not identify a particular clinical benefit.
Stabilising: Helps maintain the stability of ingredients or the finished formula.
Viscosity controlling: Adjusts how thick or fluid a product is.

Function definitions: European Commission ingredient function definitions (SCCNFP/0299/00, pages 16 to 20) ↗

Registry functions describe possible formulation roles, not results for a finished product. A dictionary entry is not an approval or a safety assessment.

A closer look

What the research shows

Safety assessment

Panel concluded cholesterol safe in the cosmetic uses and concentrations assessed.

What this does not tell us

Safety assessment of animal and human data, not blood-cholesterol research or barrier-efficacy trial. Exposure bounds apply.

Sources for this summary. PubMed 40932360 ↗

Research review checked Oct 1, 2026

Bounded review of local candidates, exact-name indexed primary journal/PubMed safety and topical searches; not a systematic review.

Ingredient research is not proof that a product containing this ingredient works.

Read the 1 selected study

Safety assessment
Re-Review Summary of Cholesterol as Used in Cosmetics. ↗
International journal of toxicology · 2025

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Products containing this ingredient

All 194 products ↗

From the Serenfold edit. Linked by the ingredient list, without an efficacy ranking.

SkinCeuticals

Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2

Moisturisers · 33 linked ingredients

Inside the formula

Names and identifiers

Registry identity