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Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate

What Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate is & what it does

Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate is an ester made from sorbitol and isostearic acid, belonging to the sorbitan ester family of non-ionic emulsifiers. In sunscreen and skincare formulas it is commonly used to blend oil and water phases and to keep emulsions smooth and stable. It also has mild skin conditioning properties and is gentle enough for many leave-on products.

What does Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate do in skincare?

Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate is commonly used as a non-ionic emulsifier, meaning it helps oil and water blend into a smooth, stable product. It also has mild skin conditioning properties that can improve how a formula feels. In sunscreens it supports an even, consistent texture.

Is Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate safe in skincare?

Sorbitan esters like Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate are widely used emulsifiers and are generally regarded as safe and gentle for topical use. They are typically present at modest levels to keep a formula uniform. People with very sensitive skin can patch test a new product as a precaution.

Does Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate clog pores?

Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate is used mainly as an emulsifier at functional levels and is not widely flagged as a strong pore-clogging ingredient. How a product affects your pores depends on the overall formula rather than this ingredient alone. If you are acne-prone, a patch test can help you judge a specific product.

Sunscreens with Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate

We rate 57 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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