Polysorbate 60
Polysorbate 60
Polysorbate 60 (Oil-in-Water Emulsifier)
Our Polysorbate 60 is a non-ionic surfactant made from sorbitol and stearic-type fatty acids. It is a thick, oily to pasty emulsifier used to help oils disperse in water in creams, lotions and washes.
It is used in skin care, cleansing products, makeup bases and foundations, shampoos and fragrance powders, wherever oil and water need to be combined. It gives a stable emulsion and can add some body to a formula.
|
Non-ionic emulsifier Oil-in-water systems |
Creams and lotions Makeup bases and washes |
Use up to about 5% Often with other emulsifiers |
100 g to 4 kg Six pack sizes |
Safety information: for external (cosmetic) use only. Keep out of reach of children and keep away from the eyes. It is a raw ingredient, not a finished product. See Safety below and the Safety Data Sheet in the Product Documents section at the end of this page.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product | Polysorbate 60 |
| INCI | Polysorbate 60 |
| Type | Non-ionic surfactant and oil-in-water emulsifier |
| Appearance | Yellow to amber, thick oily liquid or soft paste, depending on temperature |
| HLB | About 14.9 (typical) |
| Solubility | Dispersible in water. Oil soluble |
| Typical use rate | Up to about 5% in finished products. Test your own recipe |
| Suitable for | Creams, lotions, skin care and cleansing products, makeup bases, foundations, shampoos, fragrance powders |
| Pack Sizes | 100 g, 200 g, 500 g, 1 kg, 2 kg, 4 kg |
| Storage | Sealed, cool and dry, away from heat and sunlight. Warm gently to pour if it has thickened |
| Use | Raw material for makers. Formulation, preservation, safety assessment and labelling of finished products are the maker's responsibility. Not for internal use |
Uses
| Use | How it is used |
|---|---|
| Creams and lotions | Used in the oil phase as an oil-in-water emulsifier, often with a co-emulsifier |
| Cleansing products | Helps oils mix with water so they rinse off. Test your own recipe |
| Makeup bases and foundations | Helps disperse oils and pigments. Test your own recipe |
| Shampoos | Helps combine oils with the water phase. Test the clarity |
| Fragrance powders | Helps disperse fragrance in powder bases. Test your own recipe |
| Dispersing oils in water | Helps oil-soluble ingredients disperse in water-based products |
How to Use Polysorbate 60 in an Emulsion
- Warm. If the polysorbate has thickened, warm the container gently in warm water so it pours easily.
- Weigh. Weigh the polysorbate with the oil phase. It is usually used at up to about 5%, often with a co-emulsifier such as stearic acid.
- Heat both phases. Heat the oil and water phases to about 70-75 °C, stirring until the oil phase is smooth.
- Combine. Add the water phase to the oil phase while blending until smooth.
- Cool and finish. Keep stirring as it cools, then add your preservatives and heat-sensitive ingredients below about 40 °C.
- Test. Check the texture the next day and adjust the emulsifier in the next batch.
Tip: Polysorbate 60 can be thick in cool weather. Warm it gently in a jug of warm water before weighing.
Using It in Creams, Washes & Makeup ▼
These are common maker starting points, not fixed rules. Results vary with your recipe, so always test a small batch first.
| Use | Starting amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Creams and lotions | About 1-5% | Use in the oil phase with a co-emulsifier or thickener. Test stability. |
| Cleansing products | About 2-5% | Helps oils rinse off. Test the feel. |
| Makeup bases | About 1-3% | Helps disperse oils and pigments. Test your own recipe. |
| Shampoos | About 1-3% | Helps oils and scent mix in. Test the clarity. |
| Fragrance powders | As set by your recipe | Test small batches. |
Tips & Troubleshooting ▼
| Problem | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Emulsion separates | Not enough emulsifier, or phases not matched | Increase the emulsifier a little, heat both phases to about 70-75 °C and blend longer. |
| Too thick to pour | Cool temperature | Warm gently in a jug of warm water before weighing. |
| Cream feels greasy | Too much oil, or rate too low | Adjust the oil and emulsifier in small steps. |
| Mix cloudy or separated | Incompatible ingredients | Test ingredients in small amounts. |
| Skin feels irritated | Reaction to the formula | Patch test and lower the rates. |
| Product spoils | Water-based products can grow mould and bacteria | Use clean tools and add a suitable preservative. |
Safety & Selling Your Products ▼
This product is a cosmetic raw material for external use only. Do not swallow it, keep it out of reach of children and keep it away from the eyes. Wear gloves and eye protection when handling the concentrated product, patch test finished products before first use and stop using a product if irritation occurs.
Polysorbates are raw ingredients and are not for use neat on skin. Water-based products need a suitable preservative.
Selling what you make? This is a raw material for makers. The formulation, preservation, safety assessment, labelling and any regulatory requirements for your finished cosmetics or soap (including the NZ cosmetic rules) are your responsibility, and health or treatment claims should not be made for your products. Contact us at info@purefx.co.nz if you need product information.
Frequently Asked Questions ▼
What does Polysorbate 60 do?
It helps oil and water mix as an oil-in-water emulsifier, and it can add some body to a formula.
How much do I use?
Up to about 5% in finished products, usually with a co-emulsifier. Always test.
Why is it thick?
It is a thick oily liquid or soft paste at cooler temperatures. Warm it gently to pour.
What is the difference between Polysorbate 20, 60 and 80?
They are related surfactants made from different fatty acids. Polysorbate 20 is a scent solubiliser, Polysorbate 80 handles more oil, and Polysorbate 60 is a thicker emulsifier used in creams and lotions.
Can I use it alone as an emulsifier?
It is usually used with a co-emulsifier or thickener for the best stability. Test your own recipe.
Does it need a preservative?
Yes, for water-based products.
How should I store it?
Sealed, in a cool, dry place away from heat and sunlight.
Is it for internal use?
No. It is sold for external cosmetic use only.
Sizes & Price
| Pack | Price | Price per 100 g |
|---|---|---|
| 100 g | $5.00 | $5.00 |
| 200 g | $8.20 | $4.10 |
| 500 g | $19.00 | $3.80 |
| 1 kg | $36.00 | $3.60 |
| 2 kg | $66.00 | $3.30 |
| 4 kg | $112.00 | $2.80 |
Pairs Well With
Pair with sweet almond oil, shea butter and cocoa butter, and add vegetable glycerine or hyaluronic acid powder. Use with stearic acid and Emulsifying Wax (Neowax B200). Preserve with Geogard 221 or phenoxyethanol. Browse emulsifiers and thickeners. |
 Product Documents
|
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Polysorbate 60 (Oil-in-Water Emulsifier)
Our Polysorbate 60 is a non-ionic surfactant made from sorbitol and stearic-type fatty acids. It is a thick, oily to pasty emulsifier used to help oils disperse in water in creams, lotions and washes.
It is used in skin care, cleansing products, makeup bases and foundations, shampoos and fragrance powders, wherever oil and water need to be combined. It gives a stable emulsion and can add some body to a formula.
|
Non-ionic emulsifier Oil-in-water systems |
Creams and lotions Makeup bases and washes |
Use up to about 5% Often with other emulsifiers |
100 g to 4 kg Six pack sizes |
Safety information: for external (cosmetic) use only. Keep out of reach of children and keep away from the eyes. It is a raw ingredient, not a finished product. See Safety below and the Safety Data Sheet in the Product Documents section at the end of this page.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product | Polysorbate 60 |
| INCI | Polysorbate 60 |
| Type | Non-ionic surfactant and oil-in-water emulsifier |
| Appearance | Yellow to amber, thick oily liquid or soft paste, depending on temperature |
| HLB | About 14.9 (typical) |
| Solubility | Dispersible in water. Oil soluble |
| Typical use rate | Up to about 5% in finished products. Test your own recipe |
| Suitable for | Creams, lotions, skin care and cleansing products, makeup bases, foundations, shampoos, fragrance powders |
| Pack Sizes | 100 g, 200 g, 500 g, 1 kg, 2 kg, 4 kg |
| Storage | Sealed, cool and dry, away from heat and sunlight. Warm gently to pour if it has thickened |
| Use | Raw material for makers. Formulation, preservation, safety assessment and labelling of finished products are the maker's responsibility. Not for internal use |
Uses
| Use | How it is used |
|---|---|
| Creams and lotions | Used in the oil phase as an oil-in-water emulsifier, often with a co-emulsifier |
| Cleansing products | Helps oils mix with water so they rinse off. Test your own recipe |
| Makeup bases and foundations | Helps disperse oils and pigments. Test your own recipe |
| Shampoos | Helps combine oils with the water phase. Test the clarity |
| Fragrance powders | Helps disperse fragrance in powder bases. Test your own recipe |
| Dispersing oils in water | Helps oil-soluble ingredients disperse in water-based products |
How to Use Polysorbate 60 in an Emulsion
- Warm. If the polysorbate has thickened, warm the container gently in warm water so it pours easily.
- Weigh. Weigh the polysorbate with the oil phase. It is usually used at up to about 5%, often with a co-emulsifier such as stearic acid.
- Heat both phases. Heat the oil and water phases to about 70-75 °C, stirring until the oil phase is smooth.
- Combine. Add the water phase to the oil phase while blending until smooth.
- Cool and finish. Keep stirring as it cools, then add your preservatives and heat-sensitive ingredients below about 40 °C.
- Test. Check the texture the next day and adjust the emulsifier in the next batch.
Tip: Polysorbate 60 can be thick in cool weather. Warm it gently in a jug of warm water before weighing.
Using It in Creams, Washes & Makeup ▼
These are common maker starting points, not fixed rules. Results vary with your recipe, so always test a small batch first.
| Use | Starting amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Creams and lotions | About 1-5% | Use in the oil phase with a co-emulsifier or thickener. Test stability. |
| Cleansing products | About 2-5% | Helps oils rinse off. Test the feel. |
| Makeup bases | About 1-3% | Helps disperse oils and pigments. Test your own recipe. |
| Shampoos | About 1-3% | Helps oils and scent mix in. Test the clarity. |
| Fragrance powders | As set by your recipe | Test small batches. |
Tips & Troubleshooting ▼
| Problem | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Emulsion separates | Not enough emulsifier, or phases not matched | Increase the emulsifier a little, heat both phases to about 70-75 °C and blend longer. |
| Too thick to pour | Cool temperature | Warm gently in a jug of warm water before weighing. |
| Cream feels greasy | Too much oil, or rate too low | Adjust the oil and emulsifier in small steps. |
| Mix cloudy or separated | Incompatible ingredients | Test ingredients in small amounts. |
| Skin feels irritated | Reaction to the formula | Patch test and lower the rates. |
| Product spoils | Water-based products can grow mould and bacteria | Use clean tools and add a suitable preservative. |
Safety & Selling Your Products ▼
This product is a cosmetic raw material for external use only. Do not swallow it, keep it out of reach of children and keep it away from the eyes. Wear gloves and eye protection when handling the concentrated product, patch test finished products before first use and stop using a product if irritation occurs.
Polysorbates are raw ingredients and are not for use neat on skin. Water-based products need a suitable preservative.
Selling what you make? This is a raw material for makers. The formulation, preservation, safety assessment, labelling and any regulatory requirements for your finished cosmetics or soap (including the NZ cosmetic rules) are your responsibility, and health or treatment claims should not be made for your products. Contact us at info@purefx.co.nz if you need product information.
Frequently Asked Questions ▼
What does Polysorbate 60 do?
It helps oil and water mix as an oil-in-water emulsifier, and it can add some body to a formula.
How much do I use?
Up to about 5% in finished products, usually with a co-emulsifier. Always test.
Why is it thick?
It is a thick oily liquid or soft paste at cooler temperatures. Warm it gently to pour.
What is the difference between Polysorbate 20, 60 and 80?
They are related surfactants made from different fatty acids. Polysorbate 20 is a scent solubiliser, Polysorbate 80 handles more oil, and Polysorbate 60 is a thicker emulsifier used in creams and lotions.
Can I use it alone as an emulsifier?
It is usually used with a co-emulsifier or thickener for the best stability. Test your own recipe.
Does it need a preservative?
Yes, for water-based products.
How should I store it?
Sealed, in a cool, dry place away from heat and sunlight.
Is it for internal use?
No. It is sold for external cosmetic use only.
Sizes & Price
| Pack | Price | Price per 100 g |
|---|---|---|
| 100 g | $5.00 | $5.00 |
| 200 g | $8.20 | $4.10 |
| 500 g | $19.00 | $3.80 |
| 1 kg | $36.00 | $3.60 |
| 2 kg | $66.00 | $3.30 |
| 4 kg | $112.00 | $2.80 |
Pairs Well With
Pair with sweet almond oil, shea butter and cocoa butter, and add vegetable glycerine or hyaluronic acid powder. Use with stearic acid and Emulsifying Wax (Neowax B200). Preserve with Geogard 221 or phenoxyethanol. Browse emulsifiers and thickeners. |
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Product Documents
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