Description

Beta-Sitosterol is a plant-derived sterol, commonly found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. It is widely used in the cosmetic and personal care industry for its skin-conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.

Chemical Composition and Structure

Beta-Sitosterol is a phytosterol with a chemical structure similar to cholesterol, consisting of:

Sterol Backbone: A multi-ring structure typical of sterols.
Hydroxyl Group: Attached to the sterol backbone, contributing to its biological activity.
Alkyl Side Chain: Attached to the sterol backbone, providing lipid-soluble properties.
Physical Properties
Beta-Sitosterol typically appears as a white to off-white powder. It is soluble in oils and organic solvents and can be incorporated into various cosmetic formulations such as creams, lotions, serums, and balms.

Cosmetic and Personal Care Applications

Skin Conditioning: Improves the texture and appearance of the skin, making it smoother and healthier.

Anti-inflammatory: Reduces redness, swelling, and irritation associated with various skin conditions.

Antioxidant: Protects the skin from free radical damage and environmental stressors.

Moisturizing: Helps to maintain skin hydration, preventing dryness and promoting softness.

Barrier Protection: Enhances the skin’s natural barrier function, helping to retain moisture and protect against external irritants.

Environmental and Safety Considerations

Beta-Sitosterol is generally considered safe for use in cosmetic and personal care products when used within recommended concentrations. It is derived from natural sources and is biodegradable, making it an environmentally friendly choice. Sustainable sourcing practices are essential to ensure the preservation of plant resources and their natural habitats.

Cosmetics - INCI Functions


Emulsion stabiliser. Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable. Emulsion stabilisers improve the formation and stability of single and double emulsions. as well as their shelf-life. It should be noted that in the structure-function relationship, the molar mass of the ingredient used plays an important role.

Fragrance. It plays a very important role in the formulation of cosmetic products as it provides the possibility of enhancing, masking or adding fragrance to the final product, increasing its marketability. It is able to create a perceptible pleasant odour, masking a bad smell. The consumer always expects to find a pleasant or distinctive scent in a cosmetic product.

Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.

Light stabilizer. It prevents light from degrading light-sensitive components and slows down degradation reactions that have already begun. The mechanism is, in a way, similar to antioxidants and the effectiveness depends on the.complexity of the formulation and the density of the product.
Synonyms:

CAS: 83-46-5 EC number 201-480-6