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PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate
AKA “Polysorbate 20, Tween 20”
Surfactant
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Ingredient Facts
Peg-80 sorbitan laurate
AKA: Polysorbate 20, Tween 20
Surfactant · Cleansing · EWG: 3
Synthetic
Cleanser
Plant Oil
Not Clean
Sorbitan, monododecanoate, poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) derivs. (80 mol EO average molar ratio)
CAS #
9005-64-5
Form
Liquid
See origin →
Functions
Cleansing
Makes oil and water mix so dirt, makeup, and sunscreen can actually be washed away. The reason your face wash foams.
Cleansing Surfactant
Removes Impurities
Traditional Use
A synthetic emulsifier developed in the 1950s-1960s combining polyethylene glycol with sorbitan (derived from sorbitol, a sugar alcohol) and lauric acid. Created to provide stable emulsification in cosmetics and personal care products as an alternative to traditional soap-based emulsifiers.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
EWG
3
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USA✔ permitted
EU⚠ restricted
JAPAN⚠ restricted
CANADA⚠ restricted
Hydroxypropyl Dimethicone/Polysorbate 20 Crosspolymer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
PEG-8 Dimethicone/Polysorbate 20 Crosspolymer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Polysorbate 20
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Oleth 2 Polysorbate 20
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Polysorbate 20
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Clinical preliminary evaluation of PEG-80 sorbitan laurate (Novisol) versus sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate & triclosan (Septisol) in deep-peeling Hett
Kass LG, Rullan PP, Brody HJ
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2020
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Clinical preliminary evaluation of PEG-80 sorbitan laurate (Novisol) versus sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate & triclosan (Septisol) in deep-peeling Hett
Kass LG, Rullan PP, Brody HJ
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2020
→
Physicochemical characterization of sodium stearoyl lactylate (SSL), polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (Tween 20) and κ-carrageenan.
Ortiz-Tafoya MC, Tecante A
Data in brief, 2018
→
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR