Properties: Nontoxic Cleaning Agent, Emulsifier
Polysorbate 20 belongs to a class of nontoxic cleaning agents generated mostly from lauric acid, a medium-chain triglyceride (a kind of fatty acid) found in coconuts. Polysorbates for skin work as emulsifiers and have moderate surfactant qualities; some polysorbates are generated from the natural food element sorbitol, which exists in many fruits, while others have a fatty acid component. Polysorbate 20 is utilized as a food ingredient to generate a "spreading" sensation in addition to its use in both leave-on and rinse-off skin care products (such as in cooling mint drops). It is also employed in drug delivery systems for oral treatments because of its durability in the presence of digestive enzymes.
Source
- FEVOLA, M. J. (2011). Polysorbate 20. Cosmetics and toiletries, 126(5).
- Cheng, Y. S., Lam, K. W., Ng, K. M., Ko, R. K., & Wibowo, C. (2009). An integrative approach to product development—A skin-care cream. Computers & chemical engineering, 33(5), 1097-1113.
- Draelos, Z. D. (2018). The science behind skincare: Cleansers. Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 17(1), 8-14.
- Panico, A, Serio, F, Bagordo, F, Grassi, T, Idolo, A, DE Giorgi, M, Guido, M, Congedo, M, & DE Donno, A, 2019. ‘Skin safety and health prevention: an overview of chemicals in cosmetic products, Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene.