Is Zinc Stearate safe in cosmetics?
Zinc 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.
Zinc Stearate
Also known as: Caswell No. 926, EINECS 209-151-9, EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 077002, Hydense, NSC 25957 (+9 more)
INCI: ZINC STEARATE
Zinc Stearate (CAS 557-05-1) is a cosmetic emollient functioning as Binder; lubricant; slip agent in pressed powder formulations. Reported NOAEL =1000 mg/kg bw/day in Rat (ECHA); 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, pharmaceutical, and food safety data.
Function
Binder; lubricant; slip agent in pressed powder formulations
Editorial assessment
EXCELLENT
Preliminary editorial note — not a computed safety verdict.
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
zinc bis(octadecanoate)
InChIKey
XOOUIPVCVHRTMJ-UHFFFAOYSA-L
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Permitted for eye-area use; no concentration cap; standard pressed powder binder with established safety record
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Zinc Stearate.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
1 study endpoint found for Zinc 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 | short-term | ECHA |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol.
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
1,000 - 10,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (4)
Carcinogen Classification
No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC).
Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)
Carcinogen Classification
Not listed by IARC. IARC classified aluminum production as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1), but did not implicate aluminum itself as a human carcinogen. (L135) A link between use of aluminum-containing antiperspirants and increased risk of breast cancer has been proposed (A235), but studies have not been able to establish a clear link (A15468).
Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)
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
0987
Source: WHO/JECFA
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Anti-adhesive/cohesive
Anti-caking agent
Anti-static agent
Catalyst
Chemical reaction regulator
Corrosion inhibitor
Dispersing agent
Dye
Flavouring and nutrient
Heat stabilizer
Regulatory List Membership (1)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Editorial summary
Preliminary editorial summary for Zinc Stearate — not a computed safety verdict. See the sourced toxicological data above.
Regulatory Flags
binder
lubricant
eye-shadow
pressed-powder
eye-area
well-tolerated
fda_food_additive
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Zinc Stearate by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
1
Lowest NOAEL
1000 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
1000 mg/kg bw/day
ECHA
Known Synonyms
Caswell No. 926
EINECS 209-151-9
EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 077002
Hydense
NSC 25957
Petrac ZN-41
Unichem ZS
Witco Zinc Stearate USP
Zinc stearate W. S
Zn Stearate
Zink distearat
Zinci stearas
Zincum stearinicum
UNII-H92E6QA4FV
Chemical Function
Surfactant (surface active agent)
Viscosity modifier
Dye
Anti-caking agent
Anti-adhesive/cohesive
Thickening agent
Lubricating agent
Regulatory Lists
inert_ingredient; Pesticides
inert_ingredient; Pesticides
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
Europe; plastic_additive
drinking_water; Europe; manufacturing; plastic_additive
active_ingredient; animal_products; Europe; pharmaceutical; residue
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical and food safety data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA count match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Adverse Event Associations
4
SOURCE
EFSA / FDA GRAS
food_additives
Food Safety Data
Same-CAS food additive or FDA GRAS records from the core public database.
Food Name
ZINC STEARATE
Food Category
fortification
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zinc Stearate allowed in the EU?
Zinc Stearate EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Zinc Stearate do in cosmetics?
Zinc Stearate functions as: Binder; lubricant; slip agent in pressed powder formulations. It is classified as a Emollient in our database. CAS number: 557-05-1.
What is the NOAEL for Zinc Stearate?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Zinc Stearate is =1000 mg/kg bw/day based on a short-term study via oral route in Rat. Source: ECHA.
Is Zinc Stearate used outside cosmetics?
Zinc Stearate also appears in industrial chemical safety, pharmaceutical, and food safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Zinc 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
Related Ingredients
Alkyl Benzoate
EXCELLENT
Same category
Emollient; skin-conditioning agent; U...
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EXCELLENT
Same category
Plant-derived emollient oil from arga...
Babassu Oil
EXCELLENT
Same category
Skin Conditioning - Emollient: Soften...
Babassu Oil
EXCELLENT
Same category
Emollient; lauric acid-rich tropical oil
Beeswax
EXCELLENT
Same category
Wax; viscosity modifier; film-former
Behenic Acid
EXCELLENT
Same category
Cleansing, Emulsifier, Opacifier, Sur...
1-Methylhydantoin-2-imide (Creatinine)
EXCELLENT
Similar safety
Skin conditioning (skin brightening/l...
2,6-Dimethyl-7-octen-2-ol (Dihydromyrcenol)
EXCELLENT
Similar safety
Fragrance (perfuming), masking
2-Ethoxy-2,6,6-Trimethyl-9-Methylenebicyclo[3.3.1]Nonane (Boisiris™)
EXCELLENT
Similar safety
Fragrance (rich woody, orris/iris roo...
2-Hydroxypropylcarbamato Amodimethicone
EXCELLENT
Similar safety
Hair conditioning; modified aminosili...
2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
EXCELLENT
Similar safety
Softener and conditioner
3 O Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
EXCELLENT
Similar safety
Antioxidant; tyrosinase inhibitor; me...
Magnesium Propionate
MODERATE
Chemical family
Preservative - protects cosmetic prod...
Magnesium Stearate
EXCELLENT
Chemical family
Binder; lubricant; slip agent in pres...
NONADIENAL
GOOD
Chemical family
Perfuming
Is Zinc Stearate in Your Products?
Scan any product label with Piro — our free ingredient scanner. Point your camera at the ingredients list and get instant safety scores for every ingredient.
Try Piro Free →Analyze Your Full Ingredient List
Paste any INCI list into the Decoder for instant safety analysis, or calculate the Margin of Safety for Zinc Stearate in your formulation.