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This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.

A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.

Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.

Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.

In cosmetics, it acts as a skin conditioner, occlusive, and emollient that give products a rich body.

Concentrations are reported from 0.0004% to 60% with leave-on products going as high as 60% and rinse-off products staying at 8% or below.

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.

This ingredient does have a comedogenic rating of 3, but this doesn't mean a formula with this ingredient will clog pores. Human testing has proved that any finished product with this ingredient won't automatically make you break out; it really comes down to concentration, formula, and your skin.

Since this ingredient is a triglyceride built mostly from C16 and C18 fatty acids, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe as that falls into the range the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.

Allergy-wise, the proteins responsible for plant food allergies are taken out of the refined oil. This is why reactions to refined oils are rare even from highly allergenic sources like peanut. Well-designed studies have also shown refined peanut oil is safely tolerated by the vast majority of peanut-allergic people.

However, the issue is with unrefined oils; be sure to reach out to the manufacturer if you have a plant food allergy about the type of oil used in their products.

The other catch for this INCI name is that it doesn't tell you which plants are in the blend so you would need to ask the brand.

On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.

Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).

You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.

Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.

Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.

Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.

Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.

Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.

This ingredient does have a comedogenic rating of 2-3, but this doesn't mean a formula with this ingredient will clog pores.

Human testing has proved that any finished product with this ingredient won't automatically make you break out; it really comes down to concentration, formula, and your skin.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!