Is Calcium Stearate safe in cosmetics?
Calcium Stearate has a safety rating of "EXCELLENT" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted. 1 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Calcium Stearate
Also known as: EC No.: 216-472-8, EINECS 216-472-8, UNII-776XM7047L
INCI: CALCIUM STEARATE
Calcium Stearate (CAS 1592-23-0) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Anticaking; Bulking; Viscosity controlling; Opacifying; Surfactant - cleansing. Reported NOAEL =1000 mg/kg bw/day in Rat (ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 1592-23-0 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Anticaking; Bulking; Viscosity controlling; Opacifying; Surfactant - cleansing
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
calcium bis(octadecanoate)
InChIKey
CJZGTCYPCWQAJB-UHFFFAOYSA-L
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Adequate — extensive historical use; GRAS status; no systemic toxicity concerns
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Calcium Stearate.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
1 study endpoint found for Calcium Stearate. NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) values are used to calculate the Margin of Safety per SCCS methodology.
| Endpoint | Value | Route | Species | Study Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOAEL | =1000 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | developmental | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Short-term Exposure Effects
May cause mechanical irritation.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation.
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
100 - 1,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE; GROUP
SVHC Candidate
No
Additional Ingredient Properties
4 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
comedogenicity_detail
{"comedogenicity_rating": "1", "irritancy_rating": "0", "skin_type_suitability": "all,combination,normal", "acne_safe": "yes", "source": "Stabilizer"}
mineral_clay
{"cas_number": "1592-23-0", "ingredient_class": "calcium_compound", "chemical_formula": "Ca(C18H35O2)2", "mineral_origin": "synthetic", "particle_size_range_um": "1-20", "surface_area_m2_per_g": "2-10", "crystal_structure": "lamellar", "color_appearance": "white", "opacity": "opaque", "refractive_index": "1.08", "oil_absorption_g_per_100g": "40-100", "water_absorption_capacity": "low", "surface_ch…
ph_stability
{"optimal_ph_min": "5.0", "optimal_ph_max": "9.0", "stable_ph_min": "4.5", "stable_ph_max": "10.0", "ph_dependent_function": "Opacifier; thickener", "formulation_note": "Forms soaps at high pH", "source": "Formulation literature"}
sensory
{"silky": "powdery", "smooth, glides easily": "smooth, slip", "dry-touch, non-greasy": "dry, smooth", "instant": "instant", "low": "low", "w/o": "w/o", "very-high": "excellent", "no": "yes", "yes": "yes", "light-diffusing": "matte", "1.40": "1.08", "transparent": "opaque", "colorless": "white", "excellent": "excellent", "light": "light", "synthetic": "synthetic"}
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (2)
Evidence for Carcinogenicity
A4: Not classifiable as a human carcinogen. /Stearates; does not include stearates of toxic metals/
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
ICSC Safety Card
1506
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Regulatory (1)
JECFA Evaluation
CALCIUM STEARATE | 1985 | NOT SPECIFIED | TRS 733-JECFA 29/15,23 | FAS 5/NMRS 53A-JECFA 17/19 (1973)
Source: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Anti-adhesive/cohesive
Anti-caking agent
Anti-static agent
Binder
Biocide
Catalyst
Dispersing agent
Dye
Emulsifier
Filler
Regulatory List Membership (1)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Calcium Stearate.
Regulatory Flags
colorant
fda_food_additive
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Calcium Stearate by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
1
Lowest NOAEL
1000 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
1000 mg/kg bw/day
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
Known Synonyms
EC No.: 216-472-8
EINECS 216-472-8
UNII-776XM7047L
Chemical Function
Emulsifier
Anti-caking agent
Viscosity modifier
Dye
Stabilizing agent
Regulatory Lists
drinking_water; Europe; manufacturing; plastic_additive
active_ingredient; animal_products; Europe; pharmaceutical; residue
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
inert_ingredient; Pesticides
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Compound
CALCIUM STEARATE
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL2106092
Max Phase
-1
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calcium Stearate allowed in the EU?
Calcium Stearate EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Calcium Stearate do in cosmetics?
Calcium Stearate functions as: Anticaking; Bulking; Viscosity controlling; Opacifying; Surfactant - cleansing. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 1592-23-0.
What is the NOAEL for Calcium Stearate?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Calcium Stearate is =1000 mg/kg bw/day based on a developmental study via oral route in Rat. Source: ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID.
Is Calcium Stearate used outside cosmetics?
Calcium Stearate also appears in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Calcium Stearate compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
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