15/09/2015
Stearalkonium Chloride
Function:
Stearalkonium Chloride is originated from stearic acid, this fatty acid is existed in plants and animals. It is major used in hair care products (including shampoo, hair conditioner, setting lotions and bleaches) as an antistatic agent, however it’s also used as preservative and surface activity in some formula. Stearalkonium Chloride is a positively charged salt that attracts and binds proteins, which are negatively charged. It can increase the hair’s luster，improve the condition of the wet and dry hair, usually can prevent hair’s knotting.
At the first time, Stearalkonium Chloride is used as fabric softeners in textile industry and latterly use as hair’s care. It is lower cost that can replace some expensive protein or herbal ingredients .
Stearalkonium Chloride is through the cosmetics component committee’ approval，however, it has restriction of concentration，At European union, it is admitted to use in washing products but the concentration can’t more than 3%,while using in other products the concentration can’t more than 0.1%.
Safety Measures/Side Effects:
Study shows that it’s safe in specific range(0.1%~5%) when it use in outer cosmetics，Although Stearalkonium Chloride is usually regarded as toxin.At high concentration(25% solution),it shows that it has irritation to animal’s skin and eyes. According to the cosmetic database, Stearalkonium Chloride is regarded as a low hazard component, however, there are point out that it has organ system toxicity and irritation. Some animal study showing that when it use around eyes, mouth and lips, low doses influence sense organ, middle doses have irritation to skin.
In a study of an independent company, a "repeated insult patch test with a 1% aqueous solution of Stearalkonium Chloride showed it’s not a primary irritant or a sensitizer, A 48-hour patch test two weeks later indicated that 20% Stearalkonium Chloride was not a sensitizer"
