Stearyl Alcohol 50 g

The Wax-Like Alcohol That Gives Creams Their Body

Stearyl alcohol is a solid, wax-like fatty alcohol widely used as a co-emulsifier and thickener in emulsions across several industries. It belongs to the broad category of raw materials found in the Acids, Salts, Alcohols, and Alkalis section, which brings together reagents for controlling texture, structure, and stability of finished formulations. This 50 gram pack is sized for home-scale formulation work and small trial batches, where formulators fine-tune concentration and texture before committing to larger production runs.

The primary application of this ingredient is in skin and hair care: face and body creams, lotions, balms, hair conditioners, and leave-in treatments. With a melting point around 55-60 degrees, stearyl alcohol gives finished products a rich, non-greasy body, stabilizes oil-water emulsions, and helps prevent phase separation over time. Beyond cosmetics, the material is used in pharmaceutical manufacturing as a base for ointments and suppositories, in candle making to raise hardness and melting point of wax blends, and in household chemical products such as polishes and wax-based formulations.

Stearyl alcohol should be added to the oil phase of a formulation during the heating stage, at around 70-75 degrees, together with carrier oils and other lipid-soluble ingredients; the oil and water phases are then combined at matching temperatures to form a stable emulsion. Typical usage rates range from 2 to 8 percent of total formula weight, adjusted depending on the desired thickness of the finished cream or lotion. The ingredient pairs well with vegetable oils, silicones, other wax-type thickeners, and emulsifiers. In fragrance and repellent blends, it is often used alongside fixatives such as Benzyl Benzoate, which helps anchor volatile notes and extend scent longevity in the finished product.

In body-care formulations, stearyl alcohol is frequently combined with targeted active ingredients — for instance, with L-Carnitine in firming and body-contouring creams, where the fatty alcohol provides the dense textural base while carnitine acts as the functional active. To balance the pH of the finished emulsion and support long-term phase stability, a small amount of Citric Acid Monohydrate can be added during the cooling stage of the formulation.

Store stearyl alcohol in a dry, cool place, in tightly sealed packaging, away from direct sunlight and heat sources — under these conditions the material retains its properties for an extended period.

Small-Batch Body Butter Cream

Stearyl alcohol 5 g

Shea butter 12 g

Sweet almond oil 10 g

Distilled water 58 g

Glycerin 4 g

Vegetable emulsifier 4 g

Broad-spectrum preservative 1 g