Polysorbate 60

Irritancy: unknownComedogenicity: unknownEmulsifying

Fungal-acne trigger

The details

Polysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating. Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits. In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan. Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.