Emulsifier

Emulsifiers are the quiet workhorses that let oil and water blend into a stable cream, lotion or serum. Without them a moisturiser would separate — they give formulas their smooth, even texture and pleasant feel.

406 ingredients in this category · page 1 of 2

Acrylates Crosspolymer-4

ACRYLATES CROSSPOLYMER-4

A synthetic polymer that stabilises formulations and helps create smooth, consistent textures

Beheneth-20

PEG-20 behenyl ether

Type of synthetic polymer

Behenic Acid

A saturated fatty acid primarily used as a thickener and opacifying agent | Sometimes used as a replacement for the lighter-weight ingredient stearic acid

C12-14 Alketh-12

C12-14 ALKETH-12

A mild surfactant that helps oils and water blend together in formulations

C12-16 Pareth-9

C12-16 PARETH-9

A synthetic emulsifier that helps blend water and oil-based ingredients in formulations

Ceteareth-6 Olivate

Mixture of a derivative of fatty alcohol cetearyl alcohol and a fatty acid from olives | Works to make emulsions stable

Cetearyl Glucoside

Blend of cetearyl alcohol and glucose that functions primarily as an emulsifier in cosmetics | Can also be used to enhance formulary texture and deliver softening properties for skin

Ceteth-3

CETETH-3

An emulsifying agent that helps blend oil and water-based ingredients in formulations

Choleth-24

CHOLETH-24

A gentle emulsifier that helps bind water and oil-based ingredients in skincare formulations

Cocamide DEA

COCAMIDE DEA

A coconut-derived surfactant that stabilises formulations and enhances texture

Deceth-8

DECETH-8

A gentle emulsifier that helps bind water and oil-based ingredients in skincare formulations

Dehydroxanthan Gum

DEHYDROXANTHAN GUM

A stabilising polymer that maintains texture and consistency in skincare formulations

Dicetyl Phosphate

Works as a mild cleansing agent and emulsifier | Helps control the thickness of liquids

Dicocodimonium Chloride

DICOCODIMONIUM CHLORIDE

A conditioning agent that helps stabilise formulations and improve texture

Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate

A mixture of fatty acids | Used as an emollient, emulsifier, and thickening agent in skin care products

Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate

A blend of glycerin and saturated fatty acids | Used to help suspend UV filter powders such as zinc oxide

Glyceryl Laurate

Versatile emollient and emulsifier in cosmetics | Offers gentle cleansing properties

Glyceryl Stearate Citrate

Can function as an emollient, emulsifier, or surfactant | Typically plant-derived (e.g., from vegetable oils) or synthetic

Glyceryl Stearate SE

Glycol Distearate

Plays various roles in personal care products, including opacifying and skin-conditioning agent | May also be used as a viscosity increasing agent to enhance a formula’s texture

Glycol Stearate

Mixture of glycerin and stearic acid | Functions as an emollient, surfactant, and emulsifier

Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Hydrogenated form of castor oil | Hard, waxy substance

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Functions as a skin-conditioning emollient | Can enhance the penetration of other ingredients

Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine

Works as an emulsifier, emollient, and hydrating agent in cosmetic formulas | Can be used to enhance the penetration of other skin care ingredients

Lanolin

Water-repellant wax from sheep's wool | Used as an emollient in cosmetics

Lanolin Alcohol

Emollient derived from lanolin | Not a skin sensitizer

Laureth-3

Works as an emulsifier and cleansing agent in skin care formulas | Also functions as a texture enhancer/thickening agent

Laureth-4

Works as a cleansing agent in skin care formulas | Also functions as an emulsifier/stabiliser/solubizer and texture enhancer

Laureth-9

LAURETH-9

A gentle emulsifier that helps oil and water blend seamlessly in skincare formulations

Lysolecithin

Primarily used as an emulsifier with other fatty acids | Has mild cleansing properties

Methylsilanol Tri-PEG-8 Glyceryl Cocoate

Emulsifier and texture enhancer | Contains coconut oil-derived fatty acids

Myristyl Alcohol

Functions as a thickener, emulsion stabiliser, and emollient | Sometimes used as a surfactant

Nonoxynol-9

NONOXYNOL-9

A surfactant that stabilises formulations and helps ingredients blend evenly

Octyldodeceth-16

OCTYLDODECETH-16

A synthetic emulsifier that helps blend oil and water-based ingredients in formulations

Palmitic Acid

Fatty acid found naturally in skin | The most common fatty acid found in animals, plants, and microorganisms

PEG-10 Phytosterol

Used in skin care products as a cleansing agent/emulsifier | Plays a role in enhancing the overall texture of a formula

PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol

Hybrid blend of synthetic and plant-derived ingredients | Contains fatty acid from the rapeseed plant

PEG-150 Distearate

PEG-150 distearate is a cleansing agent

PEG-2 Soyamine

PEG-2 SOYAMINE

A synthetic emulsifier that stabilises skincare formulations and helps blend oil and water

PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate

An ester of the fatty acid isostearic acid combined with polyethylene glycol and glycerin | May be animal-derived or synthetic

PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate

Mixture of a glycol with a fatty acid and glucose that offers multiple functions within cosmetic formulas | Can be used as a gentle cleansing agent or oil-in-water emulsifier

PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate

PEG-30 DIPOLYHYDROXYSTEARATE

An emulsifying agent that stabilises oil and water in skincare formulations

PEG-35 Castor Oil

PEG-35 CASTOR OIL

A synthetic emulsifier derived from castor oil, used to blend oil and water in formulations

PEG-40 Stearate

Typically functions as a cleansing agent in skin care formulas | Can also be used as a thickener/texture enhancer or to help keep ingredients soluble

PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides

PEG-6 CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC GLYCERIDES

A solubilising agent that helps blend oil and water-based ingredients in formulations

PEG-60 Almond Glycerides

Derivative of fatty acids from almond oil | Functions as a skin-conditioning agent, emollient, and emulsifier

PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Primarily used as a cleansing agent | Helps whisk away oil, dirt and other debris

PEG-7 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides

PEG-7 CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC GLYCERIDES

A solubilising agent that helps blend oil and water-based ingredients in formulations

PEG-7 Propylheptyl Ether

PEG-7 PROPYLHEPTYL ETHER

A synthetic emulsion stabiliser that helps keep formulations uniform and consistent

PEG …

Type of silicone that enhances formulary texture and spreadability | Creates a breathable barrier that prevents water loss (ideal for improving dehydrated skin)

Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate

Functions as a thickener, moisturising ingredient, and binding agent | Derived from the fatty acid isostearic acid

Poloxamer 184

Synthetic polymer | Functions as a cleansing agent

Polyglyceryl-10 Behenate/Eicosadioate

Ester of polyglyceryl-10 + fatty acids behenic & eicosadoic | Stabilises oil and water emulsions

Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate

A mixture of fatty acid esters of oleic acid and polyglycerin-10 | Functions as a hydrating ingredient and emulsifier

Polyglyceryl-10 Dipalmitate

Functions as an emollient in cosmetics | Also an emulsifier

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