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Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate

What Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate is & what it does

A castor-derived emulsifier that holds water inside an oil phase and helps disperse pigments and UV filters evenly. It supports rich, stable, water-resistant textures and is common in tinted and mineral sunscreens. It is gentle and adds a smooth feel.

What is Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate and what does it do in sunscreen?

It is an emulsifier made from castor oil. In a sunscreen it builds water-in-oil textures and helps disperse pigments and mineral filters so they spread evenly without streaking. That makes it a frequent choice in tinted and mineral formulas, where it adds stability and a smooth feel.

Is Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate safe?

Yes, for cosmetic use. Polyglyceryl esters like this are mild, widely used emulsifiers, and this one is also familiar as a food emulsifier. It is not flagged as an allergen in our data, so it is well tolerated by most people at the small amounts a formula needs.

Does Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate clog pores?

Generally no. It carries no comedogenic rating in our data, placing it among the lower-risk ingredients for clogging. It works as an emulsifier in small amounts rather than sitting on skin as a heavy oil, so it is an unlikely cause of breakouts.

Does Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate feed fungal acne (malassezia)?

It can. It is a fatty ester, and the malassezia yeast involved in fungal acne can use that fatty part, so people actively managing fungal acne may prefer to avoid it. For anyone not prone to it, the ingredient is harmless. This is one specific skin concern, not a broad safety problem.

Is Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate vegan or natural?

It is plant-derived, built from castor oil and glycerin, so it is typically suitable for vegan formulas. The finished emulsifier is processed in a lab rather than scooped straight from a plant, which is normal for emulsifiers. That processing does not make it any less gentle.

Sunscreens with Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate

We rate 173 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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