Question 1

What is Polysorbate 60 and what does it do in sunscreen?

Accepted Answer

Polysorbate 60 is an emulsifier: it blends the oil and water phases of a cream or lotion into one stable, smooth mixture. It is gentle and very widely used, and it helps give a sunscreen an even, pleasant texture. It works structurally to hold the formula together rather than acting on the skin itself.

Question 2

Is Polysorbate 60 safe?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The polysorbates are among the better-studied cosmetic ingredients: the independent Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) panel assessed them and found them safe as used, and Polysorbate 60 is also cleared as a food additive (E435). The one caveat experts raise is not the molecule itself but trace 1,4-dioxane, an ethoxylation by-product that reputable manufacturers purify out. It is a contaminant of the process, not the ingredient.

Question 3

Does Polysorbate 60 clog pores?

Accepted Answer

Generally no. It is considered non-comedogenic and sits low on the comedogenicity scale, since it is a lightweight emulsifier used in small amounts rather than a heavy oil or wax. If you are breaking out, the richer emollients and oils elsewhere in a formula are far more likely the cause.

Question 4

Is Polysorbate 60 fungal-acne safe?

Accepted Answer

It is a potential trigger, so people who specifically manage fungal acne may prefer to avoid it. Polysorbate 60 is built on a sorbitan ester carrying a fatty (stearate) chain that the Malassezia yeast behind fungal acne can feed on, which is why it appears on fungal-acne avoid lists. This is one narrow concern for fungal-acne-prone skin only and not a general safety issue: for everyone else it is gentle and well tolerated.

Question 5

What is Polysorbate 60 on an ingredient list (INCI), and what else is it called?

Accepted Answer

Polysorbate 60 is the INCI name on the label. Chemically it is polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate, where the number relates to the ethoxylation and not a percentage, and you may also see it called Tween 60. It usually appears partway down the list near the oils it is there to emulsify.

Question 6

Is Polysorbate 60 natural or synthetic?

Accepted Answer

It is synthetic, though built from fairly natural building blocks: sorbitol (a sugar alcohol) and stearic acid (a fatty acid), joined and then ethoxylated in a lab. The finished emulsifier does not occur in nature, which is normal for this kind of ingredient and not a safety concern.

Polysorbate 60

What Polysorbate 60 is & what it does