A tetraester of oleic acid and ethoxylated sorbitol, used as an emulsifier, cleansing surfactant and thickener.
What it is
Sorbeth-230 tetraoleate is the tetraester of oleic acid with sorbeth-230, a polyethylene glycol ether of sorbitol with an average of 230 ethylene oxide units. CosIng lists it as an emulsifying and cleansing surfactant and a viscosity-controlling ingredient.
Where it is used
Found in a small number of products, such as cleansers and shampoos.
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 230 is an average; the material is a mixture of molecules with different chain lengths.
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).
- Viscosity controlling
- Increasing or decreasing the viscosity (thickness) of cosmetics.
EU regulation
This ingredient is not listed in the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 in the CosIng data.