A phosphate ester of tocopherol (vitamin E), listed as a cleansing and emulsifying ingredient.
What it is
Tocopheryl phosphate is, according to CosIng, a complex mixture of esters of tocopherol (vitamin E) with phosphoric acid. CosIng lists it as a cleansing, emulsifying, hair-conditioning and cleansing-surfactant ingredient.
Where it is used
Appears on the ingredient lists of a small number of skin care 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 INCI name does not show whether it is used as the free acid or as a salt.
Functions
- Cleansing
- Helping to keep the body surface clean.
- Surfactant – emulsifying
- Helping suspensions or dispersions of liquids in a second liquid by reducing the surface tension of the substances to be emulsified.
- Hair conditioning
- Enhancing the appearance and feel of hair. Leaving the hair easy to comb, supple, soft and shiny and/or imparting volume, lightness, gloss, texture, etc.
- 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.

