Glyceryl Stearate/Maleate
AKA “Glyceryl monostearate, Monostearin, Glycerin 1-monostearate, Glycerin 1-stearate, Stearin”
Ingredient
Ingredient Facts
Glyceryl stearate/maleate
AKA: Glyceryl monostearate, Monostearin, Glycerin 1-monostearate, Glycerin 1-stearate, Stearin
Ingredient · Emollient · EWG: 4
Plant-Derived
Emollient
Cleanser
Emulsifier
Skin Conditioner
Not Clean
Glyceryl Stearate/Maleate is a cosmetic ingredient used as emollient, emulsifying, skin conditioning. Assessed as safe by the CIR.
Formula
C21H42O4
Mol. Weight
358.6
CAS #
31566-31-1
See origin →
Functions
Emollient
Fills in the tiny cracks between skin cells to make everything feel smooth and soft. The "silky finish" ingredient.
Emulsifying
Forces oil and water to stay mixed instead of separating into layers. The unsung hero holding your lotion together.
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Surfactant
Makes oil and water mix so dirt, makeup, and sunscreen can actually be washed away. The reason your face wash foams.
Locks In Moisture
Traditional Use
A modern synthetic ingredient created by combining glycerin, stearic acid, and maleic acid. Developed for cosmetic formulations as an emollient and thickening agent.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
Dryness
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
Development, characterization, molecular docking, and in vivo skin penetration of coenzyme Q10 nanostructured lipid carriers using tristearin and stea
Aryani NLD, Siswodihardjo S, Soeratri W, Sari NFI
Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology, 2021
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Trihydroxystearin
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Trilaurin, Triarachidin, Tribehenin, Tricaprin, Tricaprylin, Trierucin, Triheptanoin, Triheptylundecanoin, Triisononanoin, Triisopalmitin, Triisostearin, Trili
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Rereview not opened - use not supported: Glyceryl Collagenate, Glyceryl Sesquioleate, Glyceryl/Sorbitol Oleate/Hydroxystearate, Glyceryl Stearate/Maleate, and Glyceryl Thiopropionate
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Glyceryl Stearate/Maleate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Triisostearin
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Tristearin
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Trihydroxystearin
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Triisostearin
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Tristearin
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Regioisomerism of triacylglycerols in lard, tallow, yolk, chicken skin, palm oil, palm olein, palm stearin, and a transesterified blend of palm steari
Kallio H, Yli-Jokipii K, Kurvinen JP, Sjövall O, Tahvonen R
Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 2001
Regioisomerism of triacylglycerols in lard, tallow, yolk, chicken skin, palm oil, palm olein, palm stearin, and a transesterified blend of palm steari
Kallio H, Yli-Jokipii K, Kurvinen JP, Sjövall O, Tahvonen R
Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 2001
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR