Polysorbate 60

Description

Polysorbate 60 at a Glance:
– Widely used emulsifier made from sorbitol and stearic acid.
– Provides mild cleansing properties
Can help enhance foam and thicken cleansers and emulsions.
-Aids penetration of skin care ingredients such as vitamin C.

Description

Polysorbate 60 is a synthetic ingredient that is used in cosmetics and skincare to improve the texture and sensory feel of formulations. It is used in products as a surfactant, emulsifier, and solubilizer.

Polysorbate 60 is produced by the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Sorbitan is the dehydrated form of sorbitol, a sugar alcohol that can naturally be found in some fruits. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction in which ethylene oxide is added to a substrate, in this case, sorbitan. Sorbitan is reacted with 60 units of ethylene oxide, hence the 60 in the ingredient name. The final step is the reaction with fatty acids obtained from vegetable fats and oils, such as lauric acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, or oleic acid. In addition to its function in cosmetics, polysorbate 60 can be used to prepare a wide variety of products in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Polysorbate 60 is an emulsifier made from the sugar ingredient sorbitol, the fatty acid stearic acid chemically condenses with ethylene oxide, a colorless gas. Along with keeping unlike ingredients combined, polysorbate 60 also aids in the dispersion of key ingredients throughout an emulsion.
This ingredient is also considered a nonionic (uncharged) surfactant, the formal way to describe a mild cleansing agent that helps enhance foam and provides thickening properties.

When combined with cetyl alcohol, polysorbate 60 has been shown to improve penetration of vitamin C and other antioxidants into skin. Polysorbate 60 is used as a high HLB emulsifier in combination with low HLB emulsifiers to create stable oil-in-water emulsions. Suggested pairings are with cetyl or stearyl alcohols, or sorbitan stearate.

Why Is Polysorbate Used In Skincare?
In cosmetics and skincare products, polysorbate 60 functions as a surfactant, emulsifier, and solubilizer.

Surfactant
As a surfactant, polysorbate 60 works by lowering the surface tension between two substances, such as two liquids or a liquid and a solid. A surfactant molecule contains one end that is hydrophilic or attracted to water and one end that is lipophilic or attracted to oil. This allows surfactants to attract and suspend oils, dirt, and other impurities that have accumulated on the skin and wash them away. Due to these properties, polysorbate 60 can be found in many different cleansers, shampoos, and body washes.

Emulsifier
As an emulsifier, polysorbate 60 is often used in formulations that contain both water and oil components. Mixing water and oil-based ingredients can be difficult as they will often separate and split. To address this problem, an emulsifier like polysorbate 60 can be added to improve the consistency of a product, which enables an even distribution of topical skincare benefits.

Solubilizer
A solubilizer helps other ingredients to dissolve in a solvent in which they would not normally dissolve. Specifically, polysorbate 60 helps to disperse oil in water as opposed to water in oil. Polysorbate 60 is an excellent solubilizer for essential oils.

Benefits:
1. Non-ionic, multi-purpose emulsifier (enables water and oil to mix).
2. Emulsifying efficacy is increased when combined with cetyl alcohol or sorbitan stearate.
3. Acts as dispersing agent and anti-static thickener.
4. Very useful as solubilizer and stabilizer of essential oils.
5. It is an excellent viscousity modifier.

CAS No. 9005-67-8

INCI: Polysorbate 60

Colour & Appearance: light golden liquid

purity : > 95%

HLB value: 14.9 (gives oil-in-water emulsions).

Typical use level : 1 – 10%. For external use only.

Grade: cosmetics grade

Origin: Germany

Compability: works well with most ingredients
Applications: Lotions, creams, hair loss treatments, skin cleansers, makeup products requiring emulsification.

Precaution: avoid using with the anionic surfactant in the same bath.

Packaging: Our water/Liquid based ingredients are bottled in plastics avoid spillage.

Recommended Storage: Our water/Liquid based ingredients should be stored in cool temperatures away from direct sunlight and moisture in an airtight container.

(current Lot will expire August 2025)

DISCLAIMER:
– DAKITZ NATURAL PRODUCTS are for cosmetic, personal care formulations and are meant for external use only unless otherwise STATED. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Kindly note that you are responsible for researching, testing, and understanding ingredients before buying. – We recommend working with a chemist or a formulator if you’re not advanced in formulating.