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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES Learn more About EWG VERIFIED®

Data: Fair

Stearic Acid

IMAGE SOURCE: PubChem

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Other Concerns

Multiple, additive exposure sources (low_moderate)

SYNONYMS

● STEARIC ACID, SAJ FIRST GRADE, >=90.0%
● BB 0268543
● I727
● STEARIC ACID, PURISS., >=98.5% (GC)
● STEARIC ACID, PHARMACEUTICAL SECONDARY STANDARD; CERTIFIED REFERENCE MATERIAL
● UNII-79P21R4317 COMPONENT QIQXTHQIDYTFRH-UHFFFAOYSA-N
● STEARIC ACID, EUROPEAN PHARMACOPOEIA (EP) REFERENCE STANDARD
● CD7993EA-AD14-452A-A907-33376CC98790
● STEARIC ACID, UNITED STATES PHARMACOPEIA (USP) REFERENCE STANDARD
● UNII-X33R8U0062 COMPONENT QIQXTHQIDYTFRH-UHFFFAOYSA-N

This ingredient is not currently on EWG's Skin Deep Restricted or Unacceptable Lists.

Stearic acid is a naturally occurring fatty acid. It is listed in the PETA's Caring Consumer guide as a substance of animal origin, since stearic acid is primarily derived from rendered fat of farm and domestic animals.

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • LOW
    Cancer
  • LOW
    Allergies & Immunotoxicity
  • LOW
    Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
  • LOW
    Use Restrictions

Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
  • DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

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moisturizer1603 products
hand cream419 products
exfoliant/scrub286 products
facial cleanser348 products
facial moisturizer/treatment813 products
concealer160 products
bar soap387 products
after sun product26 products
body wash/cleanser425 products
sunless tanning47 products
baby lotion110 products
mascara977 products
anti-aging85 products
foot moisturizer70 products
around-eye cream164 products
conditioner78 products
shaving cream (men's)136 products
hair color and bleaching155 products
skin fading/lightener9 products
after shave38 products
styling gel/lotion35 products
hair styling aid83 products
eye liner99 products
shampoo105 products
makeup primer69 products
foundation1043 products
blush114 products
BB cream50 products
body firming lotion325 products
shaving cream317 products
mask270 products
muscle/joint soreness16 products
baby soap16 products
nail treatment6 products
lipstick216 products
lip balm266 products
damaged skin treatment6 products
hair treatment/serum64 products
hair relaxer3 products
serums & essences96 products
antiperspirant/deodorant137 products
daily use with SPF205 products
bath oil/salts/soak19 products
bronzer/highlighter44 products
Beard Soaps1 products
liquid hand soap87 products
antiperspirant/deodorant (men's)29 products
brow liner426 products
body oil11 products
Preshave Preparations11 products
beard care14 products
bubble bath16 products
Beard Conditioners2 products
tanning oil5 products
CC cream32 products
cuticle treatment9 products
recreational sunscreen99 products
foot cleansing8 products
toners/astringents6 products
baby bubble bath2 products
baby shampoo19 products
eye shadow101 products
oil controller2 products
other eye makeup6 products
eye makeup remover2 products
lip gloss43 products
facial powder17 products
makeup remover7 products
eyelash glue2 products
body art2 products
toothpaste4 products
foot odor control7 products
lip liner35 products
Nail Creams and Lotions1 products
hand sanitizer11 products
Under Eye Concealers3 products
setting powder/spray22 products
baby sunscreen6 products
Eye Shadow Primers1 products
lip plumper8 products
beard oil1 products
styling mousse/foam1 products
glitter1 products
lip balm with SPF13 products
diaper cream3 products
Facial Cleansing Water1 products
body spray1 products
detangler3 products
mouthwash2 products
tooth whitening1 products
Facial Sun Care13 products
other men's products1 products
Putties, Puddings & Clays3 products
nail glue1 products
Fragrance Lotion or Cream1 products
nail polish1 products
Exfoliants6 products
Decollete and Neck Creams1 products
Hair Styling Gel1 products
depilatory2 products
fragrance for women1 products
Oils & Serums3 products
baby wipes1 products
acne treatment2 products

Multiple, additive exposure sources

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in foodUS. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Used in food or as an additive with limited or no toxicity information availableUS. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Data gaps

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported 'as used' concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in productCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Informational

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - anyCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Cancer

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not likely to be carcinogenic in humansEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmfulEnvironment Canada
Classified as a low human health priorityEnvironment Canada

Persistence and bioaccumulation

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be persistentEnvironment Canada
Not suspected to be bioaccumulativeEnvironment Canada

Ecotoxicology

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada
  • US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • Environment Canada

Understanding scores

Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.


HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG Verified® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Score legend
WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE APPROACH

A product’s hazard score is not an average of the ingredients’ hazard scores. It is calculated using a weight-of-evidence approach that factors in all of the hazards or health impacts associated with the ingredients.

Data availability

The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.

NONE LIMITED FAIR GOOD ROBUST
Low Availability
Moderate Availability
High Availability
NONE

Ingredients have not been assessed.

LIMITED-FAIR

There is only a modest volume of research.

GOOD-ROBUST

Ingredients have been studied extensively.

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