Stearalkonium Bentonite
Stearalkonium Bentonite is a modified clay used in UK beauty products to thicken formulas, improve texture, and help keep ingredients evenly mixed. It gives creams, masks, and makeup a smooth, stable feel without feeling heavy on the skin. Shoppers often see it in clay masks, foundations, and hair styling products.
How it works in skincare
In cosmetics and skincare, Stearalkonium Bentonite functions as a rheological additive and suspending agent. It swells in the presence of water and oils to create a gel-like network that controls viscosity, prevents separation of pigments or active ingredients, and delivers a luxurious, spreadable texture in creams, lotions, mascaras, and hair conditioners.
Key benefits
- Improves product texture and spreadability
- Helps suspend pigments and actives for even application
- Enhances stability of emulsions and suspensions
- Provides a smooth, non-greasy feel
- Assists in creating elegant clay masks and foundations
- Supports consistent performance in hair styling products
Best for
normal skin, oily skin, combination skin, sensitive skin
Where it comes from
It is derived from bentonite, a naturally occurring mineral clay formed from volcanic ash, which is then chemically modified with stearalkonium groups to enhance its performance in cosmetic formulations.
Products with Stearalkonium Bentonite
Not every product on UK Lips lists a full ingredient breakdown — so there may be many more formulas that contain Stearalkonium Bentonite than we can show here. These are the comparisons where we’ve confirmed it in the listed ingredients.