Stearic acid is a versatile fatty acid that acts as an emollient, emulsifier, cleanser and texture-enhancing ingredient in skin care formulas.
It has been shown to protect the skin's surface from water loss and help strengthen the skin's protective barrier. Stearic acid is also found in makeup formulas. This ingredient can be synthetic or animal derived. It is described as white to slightly yellow crystals/powder in its raw material form.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel confirmed the safety of stearic acid in their 2019 assessment. Their report examined products containing up to 37.4%. https://www.paulaschoice.com/ingredient-dictionary/ingredient-stearic-acid.html?q=Stearic%20Acid&fdid=ingredients