Polysorbate 20

Polysorbate 20

Moderate hazard

Is Polysorbate 20 safe in skincare?

Moderate hazardHazard 4/10

CIR safe with qualifications

Based on

  • Reference: European Commission

    Safe as used · Common emulsifier. Not listed in the EU prohibited or restricted annexes. Role-level default; per-ingredient literature check still pending.

  • Reference: Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel

    Safe with limits · CIR report 696 conclusion

  • Reference: US Food and Drug Administration

    Manufacturing impurity note · PEG and -eth- ingredients can carry a trace of 1,4-dioxane if purification during manufacturing is incomplete. It is a manufacturing by-product, not part of the ingredient, and it can be removed by purification - the US FDA publishes guidance on how. We do not score it; we simply let you know.

Is Polysorbate 20 classified as a carcinogen?

Only four bodies count here: IARC, EU CLP, US NTP and California Prop 65.

Not classified by IARC, EU CLP, US NTP, or California Prop 65.

How is Polysorbate 20 regulated?

Cosmetic ingredient

Not found on any prescription-drug, professional-treatment, or US OTC monograph list, so it is treated as a cosmetic ingredient. This is a passive default ("not on any known restricted list"), not an individually verified positive finding.

Products that list this ingredient

738 products in our catalog list this ingredient. Here are the 12 with the most reviews.

Sources (3)

  • Reference: European Commission
  • Reference: Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
  • Reference: US Food and Drug Administration

Red does not mean poison. Preservatives that stop a product going off, UV filters and fragrance can land on yellow or red depending on their score.

Green does not mean right for you. Skin and allergies differ from person to person. Treat the color as a starting point.