Regulatory Status
For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
2 study endpoints found for Stearalkonium Chloride. 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 | 50 mg/kg bw/day | oral | dog | oral | REACH |
| NOAEL | 50 mg/kg bw/day | oral | dog | oral | REACH |
Expert Verdict
Cost-effective C18 cationic surfactant used for conditioning and antistatic effects in rinse-off hair care. CIR confirmed safe as used. Moderate irritation potential as a cationic class ingredient, mitigated by rinse-off use at 1–3%. Now frequently replaced by behentrimonium chloride or methosulfate variants in premium formulations, but remains common in standard and economy hair care. Incompatible with anionic surfactants.
Regulatory Flags
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stearalkonium Chloride safe in cosmetics?
Cost-effective C18 cationic surfactant used for conditioning and antistatic effects in rinse-off hair care. CIR confirmed safe as used. Moderate irritation potential as a cationic class ingredient, mitigated by rinse-off use at 1–3%. Now frequently replaced by behentrimonium chloride or methosulfate variants in premium formulations, but remains common in standard and economy hair care. Incompatible with anionic surfactants. The EU classifies Stearalkonium Chloride as "permitted". Safety rating: MODERATE. 2 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Is Stearalkonium Chloride allowed in the EU?
Stearalkonium Chloride EU regulatory status: permitted. Maximum allowed concentration: 1–3%. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Stearalkonium Chloride do in cosmetics?
Stearalkonium Chloride functions as: Conditioning agent; antistatic; cationic surfactant. It is classified as a Surfactant in our database. CAS number: 122-19-0.
What is the Margin of Safety for Stearalkonium Chloride?
adequate The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.
What is the NOAEL for Stearalkonium Chloride?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Stearalkonium Chloride is 50 mg/kg bw/day based on a oral study via oral route in dog. A total of 2 study endpoints are available. Source: REACH.
Compliance Tools
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Related Ingredients
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