Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifier · INCI: Sorbitan Stearate
Reviewed by Elysiana Aguilar, master esthetician
How we read it
Not a pore-clogger. Considered safe for acne-prone skin.
Is Sorbitan Stearate comedogenic?
No. Sorbitan Stearate isn't considered pore-clogging, and we read it as safe to use on acne-prone skin. That doesn't make it right for everyone, but congestion isn't the thing to watch for with it.
Why we read it this way
Sorbitan stearate is a waxy emulsifier made by joining stearic acid to sorbitan, which comes from the sugar alcohol sorbitol. It favors the oil side of a cream and usually works with a water-loving partner to keep the emulsion stable. We read it as not pore-clogging.
The nuance
Stearic acid by itself is one we read with caution, and so is this ingredient's sibling sorbitan oleate. Sorbitan stearate is a separate call from both. Bound into an ester, its stearic acid is no longer a free fatty acid.
Where it shows up
Face and body creams, sunscreens, liquid foundations and tinted moisturizers use it, often with a polysorbate listed nearby.
Related ingredients
One ingredient rarely tells the whole story. The acne ingredient checker reads everything in a product at once, and there is more on what comedogenic means. Also in the guides: What acne actually is.