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Moumoujus

TRISTEARYL PHOSPHATE.

Insufficient Data CAS 4889-45-6 / PLASTICISER, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING

Tristearyl Phosphate is a functional ingredient that acts as a plasticizer to enhance formulation smoothness and a surfactant to reduce surface tension. These properties are valuable for creating stable product textures and facilitating effective cleansing.

Summary

Plasticizer Surfactant Cleansing Agent

Science

Mechanism of Action

As a plasticizer, Tristearyl Phosphate works to make brittle materials soft or smooth within a cosmetic formulation, improving its sensory profile. Concurrently, its surfactant capabilities enable it to significantly reduce the surface tension of liquids, allowing disparate oil and water-based substances to mix finely. This emulsifying action is critical in cleansing products, where it aids in efficiently washing away fat-soluble impurities and particulate matter from the skin and hair.

Research

Clinical Evidence

Low confidence
Effective range N/A
Optimal

N/A

Transparency

Dusting Analysis

Not commonly dusted

The Formula

Formulation

Solubility
Oil
Optimal pH 5 – 7
0 7 14

Stability

Tristearyl Phosphate exhibits optimal stability within a neutral pH range of 5.0 to 7.0, where it is generally resistant to hydrolysis. Stability is moderately reduced in acidic environments, with significant degradation occurring under alkaline conditions. For context, a related compound demonstrates a hydrolysis half-life reduction from approximately 1.8 years at pH 7 to just 6.6 days at pH 9.

Conflicts

  • Strong reducing agents (e.g., hydrides), which can lead to the formation of highly toxic and flammable phosphine gas.
  • Oxidizing agents (e.g., perchlorates, peroxides, permanganates, chlorates, nitrates, chlorine, bromine, fluorine), particularly when heated, as they can result in the release of toxic phosphorus oxides.
  • Strong acids and strong bases, due to increased susceptibility to hydrolysis.
  • Magnesium.
  • Certain plastics, rubber, and coatings, which Tristearyl Phosphate may attack or degrade.
  • Vinyl-based resins, which may be degraded.

Safety

Safety Profile

CIR Status
Safe as used
Sensitization risk Unknown

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel concluded that Tristearyl Phosphate is safe for cosmetic use when formulated to be non-irritating. Its safety has not been directly assessed by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS). While approved by the FDA as an indirect food additive for specific industrial applications (e.g., defoaming agents in paper manufacturing), this status does not directly pertain to cosmetic safety for skin application.

Your Skin

Skin Compatibility

No Normal
No Dry
No Oily
No Sensitive
Irritancy Unknown
Comedogenicity Unknown

Our Assessment

Verdict

Insufficient Data

While Tristearyl Phosphate is a CIR-approved functional ingredient with established roles as a plasticizer and surfactant, direct clinical efficacy and detailed skin compatibility data (irritancy, comedogenicity, skin type suitability) are insufficient for targeted precision skincare applications, positioning it primarily for formulation benefits.

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