Polysorbate is part of the INCI name of polysorbates - a group of non-ionic surfactants. It is usually accompanied by a number, for example Polysorbate 20 or Polysorbate 80. Their development involves the search for materials that facilitate the combination of water and fat components into stable formulations.
Characteristics and context
In cosmetics, polysorbate can help disperse small amounts of fragrance ingredients or participate in the formation of emulsions. Thanks to this, the preparation can maintain a more uniform form. The number is an element of the name of the type of raw material, not information about its percentage content. Individual polysorbates are not automatically interchangeable. The role of a specific ingredient depends on its properties, quantity and other parts of the recipe.
Meaning and application
Water and fat usually form separate phases, and the cosmetic formulation must take into account their mutual behavior. Surfactants have fragments that interact with different environments, so they can help stabilize the dispersion. However, not every such formulation is a classic emulsion: dissolving a small amount of a fragrance composition in a liquid is a different task than combining a large oil phase in a cream. The selection of polysorbates depends on the specific technological goal.
In practice
When evaluating a label, it is a good idea to keep the full name and number. The word "Polysorbate" itself does not determine which raw material was used. The number also does not provide the number of servings, concentration or quality level. The transparency, color and consistency of the preparation result from the entire mixture. It is not possible to predict all the features of a cosmetic or its compatibility with every application based on one emulsifier. This information should come from the manual and product specifications.