An ethoxylated sorbitan ester of palmitic acid, used as an emulsifier and cleansing surfactant.
What it is
Polysorbate 40 is polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitate, a sorbitan ester of palmitic acid (a C16 fatty acid) combined with polyethylene glycol chains, with an average of 20 ethylene oxide units in total. CosIng lists it as an emulsifying and cleansing surfactant.
Where it is used
Found in a small number of products, such as creams, lotions and cleansers.
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 of ethylene oxide units is an average; the material is a mixture of related molecules.
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.