It is a multifunctional ingredient in skincare applications used as a dispersant for pigments and UV-reflecting minerals, emulsion stabilizer, thickener, and film former.
Emulsifier
Emulsifiers are the workhorses of the cosmetic industry. They are responsible for consistency and stability but also influence important sensory and dermatologic properties of modern skin care formulations. They offer broad emollient compatibility with efficient oil emulsification and high emulsion stability.
Emulsions that spread well and have an excellent skin feel are easily formulated. Combinations of these emulsifiers are also shown to offer additional dermatological values, such as skin-firming and smoothing properties and anti-wrinkling effects.
The wide use of ethoxylated emulsifiers in cosmetics is occasionally questioned due to dermatological and environmental factors. Emulsifiers derived from all-natural sources are entirely vegetable-based alternatives to ethoxylates, based on renewable raw materials, and have been shown to be non-irritating/sensitizing in human repeat insult patch tests.
Vegetable-based emulsifiers are usually food-grade and based on natural renewable raw materials for o/w, w/o, and w/o/w cosmetic creams and lotions. They enable the formulation of high-quality and beneficial skin care formulations with safe ingredients. They can be used to formulate w/o, o/w, and w/o/w multiple emulsions for cosmetic and dermatologic formulations.Polysorbate 20 is an ethoxylated sorbitan ester, a popular non-toxic hydrophilic oil-in-water emulsifier, and solubilized, allowing the dissolution of oils into water-based formulations without alcohol.
Polysorbate 40 is a polyethoxylated sorbitan ester based on a palmitic acid (natural fatty acid) free of animal derivatives.
Polysorbate 60 is a polyethoxylated sorbitan ester, a powerful oil-in-water emulsifier.
Polysorbate 65 is a stearic acid triester of sorbitol, and its mono- and dianhydrides are copolymerized with approximately 20 moles of ethylene oxide. It is a tan solid soluble in vegetable oils and mineral oils. It is insoluble in water.
Polysorbate 80 is a polyethoxylated sorbitan ester, an excellent oil-in-water emulsifier with an HLB value of 15.0.
Polysorbate 81 is an oleic acid ester of sorbitol, and its mono- and dianhydrides copolymerized with approximately 5 moles of ethylene oxide. It is a clear pale yellow liquid that is dispersible in water and mineral oils and is soluble in vegetable oils. It may gel on standing.
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate (potassium salt of cetyl phosphate) is an anionic, oil-in-water emulsifier and an analog of the natural phospholipids in the skin.
PPG-11 Stearyl Ether is a proproxylated (11 mole) stearyl alcohol, a clear liquid soluble in oils and insoluble in water. It is a surfactant used as an emulsifier, wetting agent, solubilizer, and conditioner in cosmetic creams, lotions, make-up, and hair care products.
PPG-15 Stearyl Ether is a polyoxypropylene (15 moles) ether with stearyl alcohol, an exceptional emollient ingredient with excellent solvent and emulsifying (HLB value of 7) properties.
PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide is a pale yellow liquid. It is a highly effective, multifunctional, nonionic surfactant that offers a wide range of benefits to rinse off personal care products.
PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Coco/Isostearamide is an active liquid surfactant that replaces DEA-alkanolamides. It provides excellent foam stabilization and fragrance solubilization in formulations.
PPG-2-Deceth-30 is a polyoxyethylene (2 moles) polyoxypropylene (20 moles) decyl ether, a white to pale yellow solid wax with a characteristic odor and melting point of 42-44C.
PPG-2-Isodeceth-12 is a nonionic alkoxylate surfactant. It is a pourable white paste, emulsifier with an HLB value of 15. It is used as a fragrance solubilizer.
PPG-5-Ceteth-20 is an alkoxy ether of cetyl alcohol, a heteropolymer of ethylene and propylene oxides. It is a water-soluble nonionic liquid surfactant.
Propylene Glycol Alginate is an ester derivative of alginic acid (containing polymannuronate and polyguluronate esters) obtained from Laminaria or Macrocystis species of brown seaweeds after a series of purification steps.
Propylene Glycol Stearate SE is a primary emulsifier for lotions and low-viscosity creams. It is a self-emulsifying (SE) option of Propylene Glycol Stearate with sodium and/or potassium stearate contamination.
Quaternium-92 is a quaternized lipid conditioner developed especially for the skin. It is known under the trade name Incroquat QLC.
When mixed with water, soap bark forms a detergent (cleansing) lather, relieving itchy scalp and dandruff. Quillaja Saponaria Bark has also been used to wash eruptions, skin sores, itchy feet, and athlete’s feet.
Sodium C12-15 Pareth-15 Sulfonate is a sulfonate-capped linear alkyl ethoxylate, an anti-irritating anionic surfactant. Its structure is unique among commercially available surfactants, with a hydrophobic portion comprising 15 moles of ethoxylation terminated with a sulfonate anionic gr
Sodium Carbomer is a sodium salt of carboxy vinyl polymer, a white hygroscopic powder. It is a synthetic pre-neutralized polymer used as a thickener, suspending agent, and emulsion stabilizer in personal care products.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is derived from coconut and it is used primarily as a detergent-cleansing agent. It is the sodium salt of the ether sulfate obtained through the sulfation of ethoxylated lauryl alcohol.
Sodium Laureth-13 Carboxylate is an anionic surfactant, a sodium salt of the methyl carboxyl ethoxylated (with 13 mols of ethylene oxide) lauryl alcohol. Thanks to its excellent rinsability and flash foaming action, it is used in many cleansing applications.
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate is the product of a condensation reaction of lauric acid and lactylate.
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate (Sarkosyl) is a sodium salt of Lauroyl Sarcosinate, an ester of Lauroyl alcohol and Sarcosine amino acid. It is a secondary surfactant in a wide range of cleansing applications.
Sodium Myreth Sulfate is a highly active, ethoxylated surfactant for use in all types. A good alternative to Lauryl Sulfates or Laureth Sulfates.
Sodium Oleate is a sodium salt of oleic acid derived from vegetable oils. It is a white powder with a slight tallow-like odor. It is soluble in water and alcohol, and its melting point is 200-210 °C.
Most traditional soapmakers use the saponification of natural oils. Thanks to its relatively low prices and sustainability, Palm kernel oil is one of the most commonly used oils used for saponification.
Soap is produced through the saponification (conversion to soap) of fats and oils traditionally either animal or vegetable derived.
Sodium Stearate is a sodium salt of stearic acid (saturated C18 fatty acid), a white, free-flowing powder or granules with a fatty texture and a slight fatty acid odor.