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Polysorbate 61

What Polysorbate 61 is & what it does

Polysorbate 61 is a nonionic surfactant and emulsifier made from sorbitan esterified with fatty acids and reacted with ethylene oxide. In creams and sunscreens it helps blend oil and water phases into a stable emulsion and can also act as a thickening or co-emulsifying agent. Compared with lighter liquid polysorbates, it is a waxy solid, which makes it useful for adding body to thicker lotion and cream textures.

Is Polysorbate 61 safe in skincare?

Polysorbate 61 is a nonionic emulsifier with a long history of use in cosmetics and is generally regarded as safe at the levels used in skincare and sunscreen products. It is mild and non-irritating for most people. As with any ingredient, those with very sensitive skin may prefer to patch test a new product first.

Does Polysorbate 61 clog pores?

Polysorbate 61 is used as an emulsifier rather than an oil, and it is not generally considered a notably pore-clogging ingredient. Whether a product breaks you out depends more on the overall formula than on this single emulsifier. If you are acne-prone, judging the finished product as a whole is more useful than focusing on one ingredient.

Is Polysorbate 61 natural or synthetic?

Polysorbate 61 is a synthetic ingredient, made by processing sorbitol-based and fatty acid raw materials and reacting them with ethylene oxide. Some of its starting materials can be plant-derived, but the final molecule is manufactured. It is classed as a processed, synthetic emulsifier.

Sunscreens with Polysorbate 61

We rate 14 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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