Methyl stearate is a fatty acid methyl ester obtained by formal condensation of the carboxy group of octadecanoic (stearic) acid with the hydroxy group of methanol.
How much products actually contain
No product states its amount yet.
Of the products containing it, 7 list it before the 1% line and 0 after it (usually 1% or less).
Products using this ingredient
7 of 7 confirmed · likeliest to carry enough first
Definition
US FDA substance register · UNII 8D4NXF3ZH7 · registered name METHYL STEARATE · single chemical substance
Methyl stearate is a fatty acid methyl ester obtained by formal condensation of the carboxy group of octadecanoic (stearic) acid with the hydroxy group of methanol. A natural product found in Neolitsea daibuensis. It has a role as a metabolite. It is a fatty acid methyl ester and an octadecanoate ester.
Source: PubChem
Methyl stearate
Cosmetic roles
Safety & regulatory references
Not classified under Korea’s toxic-substance GHS list · existing chemical substance
Other restriction: ban substances that deplete the ozone layer
Source: EU CosIng ingredient list
More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature
Names & identifiers
- CAS No.chemical registry number
- 112-61-8
- EC No.EU chemical inventory number
- 203-990-4
- DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID
- DTXSID2047640
- DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID
- DTXCID0027640
- IUPAC
- Methyl octadecanoate
- Molecular formula
- C19H38O2
- Molecular weight
- 298.511 g/mol
Measured properties
- Appearance
- Methyl stearate appears as white crystals or chunky solid. (NTP, 1992) · CBI, Large Crystals, Liquid
- Boiling point
- 828 to 829 °F at 747 mmHg (NTP, 1992) · 443 °C
- Melting point
- 100 °F (NTP, 1992) · 39.1 °C
- Solubility
- less than 1 mg/mL at 72 °F (NTP, 1992) · Insol in water, sol in alcohol or ether.
- Density
- 0.8498 at 104 °F (NTP, 1992) - Less dense than water, will float · 0.8498 @ 40 °C/4 °C
- Colour
- white
- Melting/freezing point
- 39.1 ℃
- Initial boiling point and range
- 370 ℃
- Flash point
- 153 ℃
- Flammability (solid, gas)
- combustible
- Vapour pressure
- 0.002 ㎩ (@ 25 ℃)
- Water solubility
- 0.00117 ㎎/ℓ (@ 25 ℃, est.)
- Vapour density
- 10.3
- Relative density
- 0.8498 (@ 40 ℃)
- n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow)
- 8.35
- Molecular weight
- 298.51
Values measured on the substance itself. The KOSHA data are a reference for writing and reviewing safety data sheets, not a specification for a commercial raw material.
Source: PubChem · KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
What products actually use it for
What the 12 products reported to the US EPA with this ingredient use it for. Products outside cosmetics are included, so the top few rows are its main uses.
- Lubricating agent3
- Emulsifier2
- Softener and conditioner2
- Fragrance2
- Flavouring and nutrient1
- Processing aids not otherwise specified1
- Intermediate1
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Irritation and sensitisation studies
2 skin studies and 1 eye studies are on record.
The study conclusions largely agree (100%). These tests are on the raw material itself; irritation at the amount in a finished product is a different question.
See all 3 studies
- Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation
skin irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 404 (Acute Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) according to - Not likely to be sensitizing
skin sensitisation: in vivo (non-LLNA) · Screening · according to OECD Guideline 406 (Skin Sensitisation) adopted in 1992 according to EU Method B.6 (Skin Sensitisation) adopted in 1996 - Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation
eye irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 405 (Acute Eye Irritation / Corrosion) according to
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Related literature
- Immunomodulatory and skin-compatible effects of Amaranthus retroflexus volatile compounds: An in-silico network and pathway-based approach · 2025
- Optimization of chemical transesterification of methyl stearate with sucrose using response surface methodology · 2026
- In Silico Evaluation of Drug-Likeness and ADME Properties of Parkia timoriana Phytochemicals for Potential Therapeutic Applications · 2025
- Comparative phytochemical analysis, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of rhizome and leaves of Curcuma caesia Roxb. and Curcuma longa L. · 2024
- A biomarkers study of human skin fibroblasts exposition to glyphosate-based herbicide using an untargeted and targeted metabolomics approach. · 2024
Linked databases 17
- Australian Industrial Chemicals Inventory (AICIS)
- ChEBI
- EU CosIng ingredient list 2
- Korea Cosmetic Association ingredient dictionary
- Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)
- KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
- MFDS (Korea) cosmetic ingredient register 2
- NIST Chemistry WebBook
- PubChem 2
- Tlooto literature search 2 3 4 5
- UniChem cross-reference IDs
- US EPA CompTox dashboard 2
- US EPA DSSTox chemical database
- US FDA substance registration (GSRS)
- US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)
- Wikidata
- Wikipedia · Chinese