Ingredient
Polysorbate 20
An emulsifier that helps small amounts of oil disperse in a water-based formula.
What it is there to do
Emulsifier
Holds oil and water together so they do not separate.
Surfactant
Lifts oil and dirt so they rinse away; creates lather.
What we don't know
- Where it comes from — plant, mineral, synthetic — isn't recorded.
- No published rule in our reference names it. That is about the rules, not safety.
- How much of it is used in any particular product. We hold no concentrations at all.
This is information about an ingredient, not medical advice, and not a judgement about any product that contains it. Back to the reference.