Ingredient glossary
Polysorbate 20
On your shelf ✓What Polysorbate 20 does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Polysorbate 20 · Also: Tween 20
In short: Polysorbate 20 delivers solubilization and emulsification, plays a broad, supporting role, and the evidence behind it is strong. One thing to know: introduce it gently.
- What it does
- Solubilization, emulsification
- Best for
- A broad, supporting role
- Watch out
- Introduce it gently
- Evidence
- Strong
What it actually is
The Glow take
Nice to have, and nothing to overthink.
Polysorbate 20 plays a quiet supporting role, rounding out a formula rather than being the reason you buy it.
— Maya
What it does
- solubilization
- emulsification
- cleansing
strong evidenceReviews describe a nonionic surfactant with HLB around 16.7, used to solubilize oils, stabilize emulsions and aid cleansing.
Why we say this
- CIR and EMA summaries note low acute toxicity and infrequent contact allergy; 1,4 dioxane traces are controlled in manufacturing.
- CIR safety review Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Polysorbates 20 and related ingredients
- CIR safety review Final Report - Safety Assessment of Polysorbates as Used in Cosmetics
The nonionic surfactant family, at a glance
19 nonionic surfactant entries in the base, Polysorbate 20 among them. 15 of the 19 are an emulsifier.
- C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
- Ceteareth-20
- Coco-Glucoside
- Decyl Glucoside
- Isoceteth-20
- Laureth-7
- Myristyl Glucoside
- PEG-100 Stearate
- PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Ester
- PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
- PEG-60 Castor Oil
- Poloxamer 338
- Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
- Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
- Polysorbate 20
- Polysorbate 60
- PPG-24-Glycereth-24
- Sucrose Laurate
- Sucrose Stearate
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
No specific skin type. It is a broadly used ingredient.
Approach with care
- very sensitive
- eczema
- rare allergy
- Irritation riskModerate
How it fits each skin type
- DryNeutral
- CombinationNeutral
- OilyNeutral
- SensitiveTake care
Take extra care if any of these apply to you: eczema, rare allergy.
Where it fits in your routine
Plays well with
- nonionic surfactants
- preservatives
- emulsifiers
Polysorbate 20, answered
Is Polysorbate 20 safe during pregnancy?
Yes. Polysorbate 20 is considered safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. As with anything, if you are unsure it is worth a quick word with your doctor or midwife.
Who should avoid Polysorbate 20?
Approach Polysorbate 20 with care if any of these apply to you: very sensitive, eczema, and rare allergy. Its irritation risk is moderate, so introduce it slowly and patch test first.
What concentration of Polysorbate 20 actually works?
Its concentration is rarely printed on the label, so use the ingredient list as your clue: near the top third it is likely doing real work, near the bottom it is more of a sprinkle.
Does it clog pores?
No rating data located; considered non clogging at use levels.
- This rating comes from old lab tests on the isolated ingredient, not the finished product.
- The full formula, how much is used, and your own skin all matter more than one number.
- If you are acne-prone it is worth noticing, not a reason to avoid it on sight.
Checking a whole product? Paste its list into the pore-clogging checker →
This, for every label you own
One ingredient is easy. A full label is where it gets confusing. The Ingredient Decoder reads any product and tells you the honest truth, ingredient by ingredient.
Sources & how we reviewed this
- CIR safety review Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Polysorbates 20 and related ingredientssummary page only, the document itself was not read
- CIR safety review Final Report - Safety Assessment of Polysorbates as Used in Cosmeticssummary page only, the document itself was not read
What changed on this page
- : whether it feeds Malassezia
- : what the EU regulates
- : sources