What it is
In the register’s words: “Sorbitan, monododecanoate, poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) derivs.”
- EU register name (INCI)
- POLYSORBATE 20
- CAS number
- 9005-64-5
- Written on these labels as
- Polysorbate 20; Polysorbate-20
What the register lists it for
These are the uses the European Commission’s CosIng register lists for Polysorbate 20 in any cosmetic, hair roles first. They say why a maker might add it, not what it does in one formula, and they aren’t a safety rating.
- Emulsifying surfactant
-
Lets oil and water mix into one cream or lotion and stay mixed. Conditioners and creams rely on them.
Register definition: “Helping suspensions or dispersions of liquids in a second liquid by reducing the surface tension of the substances to be emulsified.”
- Cleansing surfactant
-
The washing ingredients: they let water lift oil, product and dirt off hair and scalp. Shampoos list them near the top; some conditioners hold a little.
Register definition: “Wetting body surfaces, emulsifying or solubilizing oils, and suspending soil (generally, such ingredients contribute to the foaming and lathering properties of cleansing products).”
Where it sits on each label
US labels list ingredients from most to least, except that those at 1% or less may follow in any order. A name near the top is a large part of the formula. A label doesn’t mark where the 1% point falls, so further down, the order says little about how much is in it.
- Shampoos 1 label First five names: 1 of 1 Shampoos without it
- Clarifying shampoos 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Clarifying shampoos without it
- Deep conditioners 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Deep conditioners without it
- Leave-in conditioners 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Leave-in conditioners without it
- Stylers 12 labels First five names: 6 of 12 Stylers without it
- Protein treatments 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Protein treatments without it
- Heat protectants 2 labels First five names: 0 of 2 Heat protectants without it
- Curl refreshers 2 labels First five names: 2 of 2 Curl refreshers without it
Every label, product by product (21)
- tgin Moisture Rich Sulfate Free Shampoo Shampoo 3rd of 24 names
- PATTERN Cleansing Shampoo Clarifying shampoo 6th of 34 names
- Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Hair Masque Deep conditioner · listed as Polysorbate-20 9th of 37 names
- Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Leave-In Conditioner Leave-in conditioner 27th of 27 names
- Ouidad Curl Quencher Moisturizing Styling Gel Styler 4th of 38 names
- Rizos Curls Light Hold Gel Styler 4th of 29 names
- Giovanni Curl Habit Curl Shaping Hair Gel Styler 3rd of 21 names
- tgin Curl Bomb Moisturizing Styling Gel Styler 5th of 27 names
- Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Curl Smoothie Styler · listed as Polysorbate-20 5th of 21 names
- Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Curl Smoothie Styler 9th of 28 names
- The Doux BIG POPPA Defining Gel Styler 5th of 15 names
- TRESemmé Bouncy Curls Defining Mousse Styler 7th of 20 names
- The Doux MOUSSE DEF Texture Foam Styler 9th of 17 names
- Maui Moisture Flexible Hold + Coconut Milk Curl Foam Mousse Styler 10th of 16 names
- Aunt Jackie's Don't Shrink Flaxseed Elongating Curling Gel Styler 13th of 20 names
- Camille Rose Curl Maker Styler 13th of 18 names
- ApHogee Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor Protein treatment 27th of 44 names
- Mielle Mongongo Oil Thermal & Heat Protectant Spray Heat protectant · listed as Polysorbate-20 11th of 28 names
- TRESemmé Protecting Heat Styling Spray Heat protectant 15th of 29 names
- PATTERN Hydrating Mist Curl refresher 3rd of 52 names
- Camille Rose Honey Dew Liquid Moisture Refresher Curl refresher 5th of 13 names
Each line runs from the first name on a label to the last; a dot is where this ingredient sits. Makers change formulas now and then; if the list on your bottle differs, go by your bottle.
Your next step
Other emulsifying surfactant ingredients on these labels
- Polysorbate 60 13 labels
- Xanthan Gum 11 labels
- Glycereth-2 Cocoate 10 labels
- PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil 10 labels
- Trideceth-12 8 labels
- PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate 7 labels
- PEG-150 Distearate 6 labels
- Hexylene Glycol 5 labels
Updated · The name, numbers and uses come from the European Commission’s CosIng entry (CC BY 4.0); we write the uses in US spelling and put the hair ones first. The labels are each maker’s own. The order rule is the FDA’s Cosmetics Labeling Guide. All our sources are on the Sources page.