An ethoxylated sorbitol, used as a humectant, solvent and emulsifier.
What it is
Sorbeth-30 is a polyethylene glycol ether of sorbitol with an average of 30 ethylene oxide units in total. CosIng lists it as an emulsifying surfactant and a humectant, solvent and viscosity-controlling ingredient.
Where it is used
Found in skin care, hair care and cleansing 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 30 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.
- Humectant
- Retaining and/or preserving the moisture in a product during use.
- Solvent
- Dissolving other components of cosmetics. Solvents are usually liquids (aqueous and nonaqueous).
- 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.