Ingredient glossary / Emulsifier
Polysorbate 20
On the label: Polysorbate 20 · Emulsifier
What it is
A mild emulsifier that lets small amounts of oil or fragrance disperse in water; common in toners and mists.
Emulsifiers: Emulsifiers hold oil and water together so a cream stays a cream.
Wikidata: Chemical substance. Q413616 →
In the research
28 PubMed papers mention it with skin, cosmetics or hair; the three most recent:
- Successful 15-step desensitization protocol for nivolumab and ipilimumab after a skin-test confirmed anaphylaxis to polysorbate 80: case report · Melanoma research, 2026
- Persistent Hyperpigmentation Following Coretox Injection: A Review of Adverse Events Associated with Polysorbate 20 · Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open, 2026
- Retinyl palmitate-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers prepared by the phase inversion temperature method: Physicochemical properties, in vitro skin permeation, and occlusion abili · Journal of microencapsulation, 2026
A paper is a paper, not a verdict: titles are listed so you can read them, and a study on cells or mice says little about a cream on a face.
Products whose label lists it
6 on the siteMatched from the ingredient list the supplier printed; the position in the list (first or thirtieth) is on each product page.
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USAOther emulsifiers
Dew & Balm describes ingredients from the public record and makes no claim about what a product will do for you. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA. If a product causes a reaction, stop using it; a reaction that spreads or affects breathing is a call to a doctor or 911.