Polysorbate 20 in skincare
A surfactant often used to solubilise small amounts of oil in water.
What is polysorbate 20?
A surfactant often used to solubilise small amounts of oil in water. On the ingredient list, you can find the name Polysorbate 20. The dictionary uses both the common name and the INCI name, so you can compare the explanation with the packaging.
What does polysorbate 20 do for skin and the product?
Helps distribute ingredients such as fragrance in a water-containing formulation.
Water and oil do not mix stably on their own. Emulsifiers help hold the two phases together. Their role differs from preservatives, which protect against microbial growth.
Its function in the specific formula determines why the ingredient has been added.
How to read the ingredient list
Look at the product's purpose and overall composition. Position on the list does not tell you the exact concentration used or how your skin will react. One substance can serve several purposes in the same product.
Questions about polysorbate 20
What does polysorbate 20 do in skincare?
Helps distribute ingredients such as fragrance in a water-containing formulation.
What should I know about polysorbate 20?
Its function in the specific formula determines why the ingredient has been added.
Related ingredients
About sources and ingredient names
The European Commission's CosIng database is a reference for cosmetic ingredient names and functions. An entry does not constitute approval of all uses or evidence of a particular product effect.
DermNet: functions of moisturising care · DermNet: cosmetic formulations