What it is
In the register’s words: “Sorbitan, monooctadecanoate, poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) derivs.”
- EU register name (INCI)
- POLYSORBATE 60
- CAS number
- 9005-67-8
What the register lists it for
These are the uses the European Commission’s CosIng register lists for Polysorbate 60 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.
- Rinse-out conditioners 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Rinse-out conditioners without it
- Deep conditioners 2 labels First five names: 0 of 2 Deep conditioners without it
- Leave-in conditioners 2 labels First five names: 0 of 2 Leave-in conditioners without it
- Stylers 5 labels First five names: 1 of 5 Stylers without it
- Protein treatments 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Protein treatments without it
- Heat protectants 2 labels First five names: 1 of 2 Heat protectants without it
Every label, product by product (13)
- Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Clean Slate Daily Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner 17th of 30 names
- Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Deep Hydration Mask Deep conditioner 15th of 30 names
- Giovanni Curl Habit Curl Defining Deep Conditioning Hair Mask Deep conditioner 20th of 24 names
- Cantu Ultra Moisture Nourishing Leave-In Conditioner Leave-in conditioner 9th of 37 names
- Aussie Miracle Curls Leave-In Detangling Milk Leave-in conditioner 20th of 22 names
- Cantu Ultra Moisture Nourishing Curl Cream Styler 5th of 30 names
- SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie Styler 7th of 25 names
- Jessicurl Confident Coils Styling Solution Styler 7th of 13 names
- PATTERN Curl Gel Styler 26th of 38 names
- Cécred Moisture Sealing Lotion Styler 42nd of 48 names
- ApHogee Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor Protein treatment 9th of 44 names
- Mielle Mongongo Oil Thermal & Heat Protectant Spray Heat protectant 3rd of 28 names
- Curlsmith Miracle Shield Heat protectant 18th of 34 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 20 21 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.