Ingredient glossary
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
On your shelf ✓What Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
In short: Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate delivers emulsification and skin conditioning, plays a broad, supporting role, and the evidence behind it is strong.
- What it does
- Emulsification, skin conditioning
- Best for
- A broad, supporting role
- Evidence
- Strong
The molecule
The two pieces are meant to be apart. Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate is a salt, and its parts are held to each other by opposite charges rather than by a bond.
The Glow take
Nice to have, and nothing to overthink.
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate plays a quiet supporting role, rounding out a formula rather than being the reason you buy it.
— Maya
What it does
- emulsification
- skin conditioning
strong evidenceThe CIR review of amino acid alkyl amides found the group safe as used when formulated to be non irritating, with reported use of this one at 0.03 to 2 percent. Contact allergy to it is documented in case reports as an emerging sensitizer, rare but real, which is why the allergy note stays on this row.
On a label: usually effective at 0.25-2%.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
No specific skin type. It is a broadly used ingredient.
Approach with care
- rare allergy
- Clogs poresLow
- Irritation riskLow
How it fits each skin type
- DryNeutral
- CombinationNeutral
- OilyNeutral
- SensitiveNeutral
Take extra care if any of these apply to you: rare allergy.
Where it fits in your routine
Plays well with
- emulsifiers
- fatty acids
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, answered
Is Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate safe during pregnancy?
Yes. Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate is considered safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. As with anything, if you are unsure it is worth a quick word with your doctor or midwife.
Who should avoid Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate?
Approach Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate with care if any of these apply to you: rare allergy.
What concentration of Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate actually works?
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate tends to do its job in the 0.25 to 2% range. Much lower and it is likely underdosed.
This, for every label you own
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Sources & how we reviewed this
- PMID 28553738abstract only, the full text is paywalled
- PMID 35808936abstract only, the full text is paywalled