Stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid commonly found in animal and vegetable fats that is frequently used in cosmetics, candles, soaps, plastics, oil pastels, and for softening rubber. Ethyl stearate is the neutral, more lipid soluble form of the free acid. It perturbs the cell cycle and induces apoptosis in Hep-G2 cells and is a marker of excessive alcohol consumption that can be isolated from an individual’s hair.