What is it?
Disteardimonium Hectorite is a modified clay mineral used in skincare and cosmetics as a thickener, stabilizer, and suspension agent. It can give products a smooth, uniform texture while keeping pigments and other active ingredients evenly dispersed throughout a formula.
Where does it come from?
It is derived from hectorite, a naturally occurring clay mineral composed primarily of magnesium silicate. Through a process with stearyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium compounds, the clay becomes organophilic—meaning it can mix well with oils and emulsions used in cosmetic formulations.