What Is Glyceryl diisostearate?

Learn about the opacifying, skin conditioning emollient, and surfactant emulsifying characteristics of Glyceryl diisostearate and its usage in personal care products.

What Is Glyceryl diisostearate? Brandon Jones / IngredientReviewer

Last Updated: October 2, 2024

Written by Brandon Jones

What Is Glyceryl diisostearate?

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Glyceryl 1,2-isodistearate is a substance that can make cosmetic products look less transparent (opacifying) and soften the skin (skin conditioning - emollient). It also helps to mix together ingredients that wouldn't normally mix well (surfactant - emulsifying). It can also be called glyceryl diisostearate or nb2ire6n4k.

What is the purpose of Glyceryl diisostearate in personal care products? It is used for its opacifying, skin conditioning emollient, and surfactant emulsifying characteristics. Glyceryl diisostearate reduce cosmetic transparency, hydrates skin to prevent dryness, and helps mix liquids that don't usually mix.

Names and identifiers that we found for this substance include: Glyceryl Diisostearate, "Di(isooctadecanoic) acid, diester with glycerol", "Isooctadecanoic acid, diester with 1,2,3-propanetriol", 3-Hydroxypropane-1,2-diyl bis(16-methylheptadecanoate), and "Heptadecanoic acid, 16-methyl-, 1-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2-ethanediyl ester".

What Are Opacifying Ingredients?

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Glyceryl diisostearate has opacifying characteristics.

Opacifying ingredients are commonly used in cosmetic products to reduce transparency or translucency. These ingredients create a white or opaque appearance in the product, which helps hide imperfections and blemishes on the skin. Some opacifying ingredients also have the added benefit of providing a matte finish, which can be desirable for those with oily or combination skin.

Opacifying ingredients can be found in various cosmetic products, including foundations, powders, and concealers. These ingredients can be synthetic or naturally derived, including titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and kaolin clay.

What Are Skin Conditioning Emollient Ingredients?

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Glyceryl diisostearate has skin conditioning emollient characteristics.

Skin conditioning emollients help improve the skin's texture and appearance while providing it with the necessary hydration to prevent dryness and flakiness. Emollients are lubricants that create a barrier on the skin's surface to trap moisture, which helps prevent dryness and dehydration.

Skin conditioning emollients are commonly found in cosmetics such as moisturizers and lotions, which significantly help maintain healthy and youthful-looking skin. Emollients are typically made from natural oils, such as coconut or jojoba, and can also contain humectants that draw moisture to the skin's surface.

What Are Surfactant Emulsifying Ingredients?

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Glyceryl diisostearate has surfactant emulsifying characteristics.

Surfactant emulsifying ingredients helps mix two liquids that do not usually mix well by reducing the surface tension of the ingredients. The emulsification process involves suspending or dispersing one liquid in a second liquid, such as oil in water or vice versa. However, these two liquids have different properties that cause them to repel each other and not mix. This is where surfactants come in, as they can reduce the liquids' surface tension and allow them to mix.

Surfactants have two ends: a hydrophilic (water-loving) head and a hydrophobic (water-repelling) tail. When added to two liquids that do not mix well, the hydrophilic head attaches to the water-based liquid, while the hydrophobic tail attaches to the oil-based liquid. This creates a stable mixture of the two liquids and allows for a smooth and even distribution of ingredients in the cosmetic product.

Safety

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Remember, always read and follow the instructions provided on product labels carefully. If you have any questions or concerns about using a product containing various ingredients, consult with your doctor or healthcare provider before use.