The ingredient, explained

Glycol Distearate

A published expert assessment examines cosmetic-use safety.

EmollientEmulsifyingOpacifyingSkin conditioningViscosity controlling

Explore connections

Ingredient guide

What it is and what it does

Ethylene distearate

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.
Opacifying: Makes a product less transparent.
Skin conditioning: A broad cosmetic role for maintaining skin condition. It does not identify a particular clinical benefit.
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

A historical assessment reports no irritation or hypersensitivity in a 125-person repeat-insult patch test of 50% glycol distearate.

What this does not tell us

The finding concerns that test material and protocol, not every finished product. Conflicting original-volume and publisher date metadata is left unresolved.

Sources for this summary. DOI 10.3109/10915818209013144 ↗

Research review checked Oct 1, 2026

Bounded targeted searches for the exact ingredient identity in primary research or final expert assessments, with selected-source verification. Not a systematic review.