An ethoxylated sorbitan oleate used as an emulsifier and cleansing agent.
What it is
PEG-40 sorbitan peroleate is an ethoxylated sorbitan (a dehydrated form of sorbitol) esterified with several molecules of oleic acid, with an average of 40 ethylene oxide units. CosIng lists it as an emulsifying and cleansing surfactant.
Where it is used
Found in bath oils, cleansing oils, makeup removers and other products.
Limits of interpretation
The INCI list shows which ingredients are present, not how much of each. Above 1%, ingredients are listed in descending order of weight; below 1% the order is free.
The number 40 is an average, so the raw material is a mixture of molecules of different sizes.
Functions
- Surfactant – emulsifying
- Helping suspensions or dispersions of liquids in a second liquid by reducing the surface tension of the substances to be emulsified.
- Surfactant – cleansing
- Wetting body surfaces, emulsifying or solubilizing oils, and suspending soil (generally, such ingredients contribute to the foaming and lathering properties of cleansing products).
EU regulation
This ingredient is not listed in the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 in the CosIng data.