Polysorbate 60 ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a nonionic emulsifier and solubilizer that helps disperse oils, fragrance components, and lipid-phase materials into water-based formulas. It is commonly used in oil-in-water creams, lotions, sprays, and cleansing products.
What does Polysorbate 60 do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a nonionic emulsifier and solubilizer that helps disperse oils, fragrance components, and lipid-phase materials into water-based formulas. It is commonly used in oil-in-water creams, lotions, sprays, and cleansing products.
Is Polysorbate 60 clean?
From a clean beauty perspective, this ingredient is generally mild on skin, but it has friction because it is ethoxylated and can carry trace manufacturing residues such as 1,4-dioxane if not well purified. Some clean retailers flag or limit ethoxylated materials, so supplier quality and residue testing matter.
Is Polysorbate 60 sustainable?
This material is usually made from a mix of plant-derived fatty acids or palm-linked feedstocks, sugar-alcohol chemistry, and petrochemical ethylene oxide. It is considered biodegradable, but its manufacturing route and potential palm sourcing give it a mixed footprint.
Is Polysorbate 60 COSMOS-approved?
This ingredient is not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic standards because it is ethoxylated. Its Green Chemistry profile is mixed, with partial renewable content and biodegradability offset by petrochemical processing and residue-control needs.
How does Polysorbate 60 work chemically?
It is a nonionic, ethoxylated sugar-alcohol fatty ester with a saturated C18 lipid tail and roughly 20 oxyethylene repeat units, giving it a high-HLB profile suited to oil-in-water systems. Typical use is about 0.5% to 5%, and it is broadly pH-tolerant but can hydrolyze under strong acid or alkaline conditions and may form peroxides during storage if poorly stabilized.
Last updated 2026-05-13