An inulin ester of stearic acid, used as an emollient, emulsifier, cleansing surfactant and skin-conditioning ingredient.
What it is
Stearoyl inulin is inulin, a fructose polysaccharide, esterified with stearic acid, which gives it both water-loving and oil-loving parts. CosIng lists it as an emollient, emulsifying and cleansing surfactant and skin-conditioning ingredient.
Where it is used
Found in a small number of creams, makeup and other products containing oils.
Limits of interpretation
The INCI list shows which ingredients are present, not how much of each. Above 1%, ingredients are listed in descending order of weight; below 1% the order is free.
The INCI name does not show the degree of esterification.
Functions
- Skin conditioning – emollient
- Acting as lubricants on the skin surface providing the skin with a soft and smooth appearance.
- Surfactant – emulsifying
- Helping suspensions or dispersions of liquids in a second liquid by reducing the surface tension of the substances to be emulsified.
- Skin conditioning
- Maintaining the skin in good condition.
- Surfactant – cleansing
- Wetting body surfaces, emulsifying or solubilizing oils, and suspending soil (generally, such ingredients contribute to the foaming and lathering properties of cleansing products).
EU regulation
This ingredient is not listed in the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 in the CosIng data.