Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate ●
TL;DR. This ingredient functions mainly as a nonionic emulsifier, solubilizer, and mild surfactant. It helps disperse oils, fragrance components, and lipid materials into water-based formulas, especially in gentle cleansers and light emulsions.
What does Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient functions mainly as a nonionic emulsifier, solubilizer, and mild surfactant. It helps disperse oils, fragrance components, and lipid materials into water-based formulas, especially in gentle cleansers and light emulsions.
Is Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it is generally well tolerated and does not sit on major restricted lists. Like many surfactants, it can contribute to eye or skin irritation at higher use levels, but it is usually considered low concern in properly balanced formulas.
Is Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate sustainable?
This material is commonly made from glycerin and plant-derived fatty acids, often from coconut or palm-kernel supply chains. It is expected to be biodegradable, with the main sustainability question being whether the plant oil feedstock is responsibly sourced.
Is Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate COSMOS-approved?
It is generally permitted under COSMOS-natural and can be used in COSMOS-organic formulas when made from approved renewable feedstocks and compliant processing. It aligns well with Green Chemistry because it can be made through esterification of renewable inputs and is designed to break down after use.
How does Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate work chemically?
The molecule is a nonionic polyglycerol ester with a hydrophilic polyglycerol head group and a saturated C12 lipid tail, giving it both water-compatibility and oil-dispersing behavior. It is typically used at low single-digit percentages, remains useful across a broad skin-care pH range, and is often paired with other emulsifiers or surfactants to tune foam, clarity, and emulsion stability.
Last updated 2026-05-13