Po
Polysorbate 20
Polysorbate 20
Mild non-ionic emulsifier. Used to solubilize small amounts of oil into water-based formulations.
What it does
Polysorbate 20 is the workhorse solubilizer in toners, mists, and lightweight serums — it lets fragrance oils, vitamin E, and other oil-soluble ingredients sit in a clear water-based formulation. Generally well tolerated. Different polysorbate numbers (20, 60, 80) correspond to different fatty-acid lengths; polysorbate 20 is the lightest.
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