An ethoxylated sorbitol ester of beeswax, used as an emulsifier and cleansing agent.
What it is
Sorbeth-20 beeswax is, according to CosIng, the ester of beeswax with an ethoxylated sorbitol (anhydroglucitol), with an average of 20 ethylene oxide units. CosIng lists it as an emulsifying and cleansing surfactant.
Where it is used
Appears on the ingredient lists of a small number of products, such as creams and makeup.
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 20 refers to the average degree of ethoxylation, so the raw material is a mixture of 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.