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C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate

What C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate is & what it does

C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate is an emulsifier built from long fatty chains attached to a phosphate group. It blends the oil and water phases of a sunscreen into one stable, smooth mixture and is often paired with C20-22 Alcohols to create a light, non-greasy finish. It works on the surface of the skin and is valued for giving water-resistant, easy-to-spread textures.

What is C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate and what does it do in sunscreen?

C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate is an emulsifier: it binds the oil and water parts of a formula into one stable cream or lotion. In a sunscreen it helps the product spread smoothly and stay evenly mixed, and it is often used in pairs with a fatty alcohol to build a light, non-greasy finish. It contributes to texture and stability rather than to sun protection itself.

Is C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate safe?

Yes. It is a widely used emulsifier that works on the surface of the skin and is well tolerated at the low levels used in cosmetics. It is not associated with notable irritation for most people.

Does C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate clog pores?

Generally no. It is an emulsifier used in small amounts to hold a formula together, not a heavy oil or wax. As with any emulsifier, very acne-prone skin can occasionally react, but in a well-formulated sunscreen it is not a notable pore-clogging flag.

Is C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate a preservative or a UV filter?

No, it is neither. C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate is an emulsifier that blends oil and water; it does not stop microbes growing and it does not absorb UV light. The preserving in a sunscreen is done by dedicated preservatives, and the sun protection comes from the UV filters.

Is C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate natural or synthetic?

It is synthetic, though it is built from fatty building blocks that are often plant-derived. The fatty chains are joined to a phosphate group in a lab to create the finished emulsifier, which does not occur in nature in this form.

Sunscreens with C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate

We rate 144 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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