Stearalkonium chloride on your skin: a safety profile

What is stearalkonium chloride?

The IUPAC name is N,N-dimethyl-1-octadecanaminiumchloride.

Also known as: N,N-dimethyl-1-octadecanaminiumchloride, dimethyl stearyl ammonium chloride.

IUPAC name

N,N-dimethyl-1-octadecanaminiumchloride

CAS number

122-19-0

Molecular formula

C18H40ClN

Molecular weight

317.97 g/mol

SMILES

CC(=O)OCC1=C(N2C(C(C2=O)NC(=O)CC3=CC=CS3)SC1)C(=O)[O-].[Na+]

PubChem CID

23685268

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Stearalkonium chloride.

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where you encounter stearalkonium chloride

• conditioner
• hair treatment
• fabric softener
• skin care

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Stearalkonium chloride:

• Alkyl polyglucosides (APGs) — plant-derived, very mild (e.g., decyl glucoside)
  Trade-offs: Consumer preference for 'natural' label; many natural fragrance compounds are potent allergens (limonene, linalool, eugenol); 'natural' ≠ 'safe'; often more expensive than synthetic equivalents.
  Relative cost: 2-5× conventional
• Amino acid-based surfactants (e.g., sodium lauroyl glutamate, sodium cocoyl glycinate)
  Trade-offs: Extremely mild (pH 5.5-6.5); biodegradable; derived from amino acids and fatty acids; premium ingredient cost; excellent consumer perception; lower foam volume than sulfate surfactants.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×
• Sodium cocoyl isethionate (SCI) — low irritation potential, solid surfactant
  Trade-offs: Alternative surfactant; performance characteristics (foaming, emulsification, wetting) vary; biodegradability and aquatic toxicity should be assessed; formulation adjustment may be needed.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×
• Amphoteric surfactants (e.g., cocamidopropyl betaine) — milder than anionic types
  Trade-offs: Removes 95-99% of dissolved contaminants including metals, PFAS, nitrates; wastes 2-4 gallons per gallon produced (improving with newer systems); removes beneficial minerals; $0.05-0.25/gallon; requires pre-treatment for longevity.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions