Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate
Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate is a modified starch used in UK beauty products to improve texture and absorb excess oil. It gives powders, dry shampoos, and foundations a silky, non-greasy feel while helping them stay on the skin longer. A common ingredient in mattifying and setting products.
How it works in skincare
In cosmetics and skincare, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate functions as an absorbent, anti-caking agent and viscosity controller. It is created by reacting starch with octenylsuccinic anhydride and then with an aluminium salt, producing a fine white powder that readily soaks up sebum and perspiration without drying the skin. This gives pressed powders, loose setting powders, dry shampoos and liquid foundations a smooth, velvety slip, prevents clumping, and helps colour pigments adhere evenly for longer wear.
Key benefits
- Absorbs excess oil and sebum for a mattified finish
- Improves product texture and gives a silky, smooth feel
- Helps makeup and powders adhere better for longer wear
- Prevents caking and clumping in powder formulations
- Reduces greasiness in creams and lotions
- Enhances spreadability and even application
Best for
oily skin, combination skin, acne-prone skin, sensitive skin
Where it comes from
It is derived from starch obtained from maize (corn), a common plant source, which is chemically modified with octenylsuccinic anhydride and an aluminium salt to create the final cosmetic-grade ingredient.
Products with Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate
Not every product on UK Lips lists a full ingredient breakdown — so there may be many more formulas that contain Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate than we can show here. These are the comparisons where we’ve confirmed it in the listed ingredients.