Polysorbate 20
Polysorbate 20 is a cosmetic ingredient used as a surfactant - emulsifying, surfactant - cleansing agent. It appears in about 5% of cosmetic products in our 90,000+ product dataset. It is regulated in the EU (listed in a Cosmetics Regulation annex). PubMed carries 509 studies of its skin or topical use.
| INCI name | POLYSORBATE 20 |
| Function | SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING |
| CAS number | 9005-64-5 |
| Prevalence | 4,355 products (4.69% of dataset) |
| Most used in | Skincare |
| EU status | Restricted (annex ) |
| Scientific studies | 509 on PubMed (skin/cosmetic/topical) |
| Monthly searches | 5,400 |
Used in
Serums 17%Toners 9.6%Face Cleansers 8.5%General Moisturizers 5.7%Makeup Removers 3.9%Facial Treatments 3.4%
Frequently asked
- What does Polysorbate 20 do in skincare?
- Polysorbate 20 functions as a surfactant - emulsifying, surfactant - cleansing agent in cosmetic formulas.
- Is Polysorbate 20 allowed in cosmetics?
- Yes, but it is regulated in the EU — it appears in a Cosmetics Regulation annex with usage conditions.
- What products contain Polysorbate 20?
- It is most commonly found in Skincare products, especially serums (17% of its uses).
Manufacturers with experience using Polysorbate 20
Match with vetted US contract manufacturers that have hands-on experience formulating with this ingredient.