Emulsifiers | Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary

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Rating	Ingredient
Good	maltooligosyl glucoside A polysaccharide that’s naturally-derived and then combined with a starch. It has multiple functions in cosmetics, including binding agent, emulsifier, hydrator, texture enhancer, and film-forming agent. Categories: Hydration, Film-Forming Agents, Emulsifiers, Film-Forming/Holding Agents, Texture Enhancer
Good	isopropyl titanium triisostearate A synthetic or animal-derived ingredient used as a surface treatment for cosmetic pigments... Categories: Emulsifiers, Texture Enhancer, Emollients
Good	lauryl PEG-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone A silicone polymer that has multiple functions in cosmetic products, including skin and hair softening and as a texture enhancer. Categories: Emulsifiers, Miscellaneous, Texture Enhancer, Thickeners/Emulsifiers
Good	hydrogenated vegetable glycerides citrate A hydrogenated blend of vegetable glycerides that functions chiefly as an emollient and texture enhancer in cosmetics. Categories: Emollients, Emulsifiers, Texture Enhancer
Good	isoamyl laurate The ester of isoamyl alcohol and lauric acid, this plant- or synthetic-based texture-enhancing ingredient feels velvety-soft. Categories: Emulsifiers, Skin-Softening
Good	PEG-10 phytosterol A synthetic or soy-derived (Paula’s Choice Skincare uses the latter) ingredient used in cosmetics as a cleansing agent and emulsifier. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emulsifiers
Good	polyglyceryl-10 laurate A plant-derived or synthetic ester of lauric acid and the synthetic polymer polyglycerin-10. Categories: Emulsifiers, Cleansing Agents, Skin-Softening
Good	PPG-26-Buteth-26 A derivative of butyl alcohol (a non-irritating fatty alcohol) that works to condition skin and hair in cosmetics. Categories: Emulsifiers, Cleansing Agents
Good	sodium dilauramidoglutamide lysine Plant-derived ingredient that helps skin rejuvenate, while also functioning as a surfactant and emulsifier to keep the formula from separating. Its ceramide-like structure has a high affinity for skin. Categories: Emulsifiers, Skin-Replenishing
Good	sodium lauroyl sarcosinate Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate is a synthetic or plant-derived surfactant (cleansing agent) that also works as an emulsifier. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emulsifiers
Good	tribehenin PEG-20 esters A complex mixture of tribehenin and PEG-20, this ingredient has multiple functions in cosmetic... Categories: Emulsifiers, Cleansing Agents, Emollients
Good	triethanolamine Used in cosmetics as a pH balancer. Like all amines, it has the potential for creating... Categories: Miscellaneous, Emulsifiers
Good	trideceth-6 An emulsifier, meaning it helps keep unlike ingredients (such as oil and water) from separating in an emulsion... Categories: Emulsifiers
Best	polyglyceryl-3 rice branate An ingredient that serves as a surfactant and emulsifier and is a derivative of the fatty acids that come from rice bran oil. Categories: Emulsifiers, Cleansing Agents
Good	ceteareth-25 A fatty alcohol that functions as an emulsifier and surfactant in cosmetics. Categories: Emulsifiers, Texture Enhancer
Good	glyceryl rosinate An ester of long chain acids derived from a plant-based ingredient known as rosin. Categories: Emulsifiers, Emollients, Cleansing Agents
Good	sodium stearoyl lactylate A synthetic or animal-derived ingredient... Categories: Emulsifiers, Texture Enhancer
Good	sorbitan laurate Sorbitan laurate is an ester that works as a cleansing agent and emulsifier. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emulsifiers
Good	sorbeth-230 tetraoleate A complex mixture consisting primarily of fatty acid oleic acid and a sugar known as sorbitol. Works as a cleansing agent, thickener, and emulsifier. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emulsifiers, Thickeners/Emulsifiers
Good	C11-15 pareth-7 C11-15 pareth-7 is a lightweight, synthetic mixture of fatty alcohols and polyethylene glycols that functions as an emulsifier and surfactant. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emulsifiers
Good	sucrose stearate Sucrose stearate is an ester of stearic acid and sugar that works as an emollient and cleansing agent. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emollients, Emulsifiers
Good	polyglyceryl-10 stearate Polyglyceryl-10 stearate is the ester of stearic acid with a glycerin polymer that functions as a skin-softener and emollient ingredient. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emollients, Emulsifiers
Good	C12-16 pareth-9 C12-16 pareth-9 is a lightweight, synthetic mixture of fatty alcohols and polyethylene glycols that functions as an emulsifier and surfactant. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emulsifiers
Good	trideceth-12 Trideceth-12 is a synthetic mixture of a fatty alcohol (tridecyl alcohol) and polyethylene glycol that functions as an emulsifier and cleansing agent. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emulsifiers
Good	polyglyceryl-10 dioleate Polyglyceryl-10 dioleate is a mixture of the fatty acid esters of oleic acid and a polymer, polyglycerin-10, which functions as a hydrator and emulsifier. Categories: Emulsifiers, Hydration
Good	sorbitan olivate Sorbitan olivate is a mixture of the fatty acids from olive oil plus a sugar known as sorbitol. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emulsifiers
Good	cetearyl olivate Cetearyl olivate is an ester of cetearyl alcohol and fatty acids from olive oil. Categories: Slip Agents, Emulsifiers, Texture Enhancer
Good	diisostearyl polyglyceryl-3 dimer dilinoleate Diisostearyl polyglyceryl-3 dimer dilinoleate is an emollient blend of fatty acids often used in cosmetics to enhance coverage. Categories: Skin-Softening, Emollients, Emulsifiers
Good	ceteareth-6 olivate A mixture of a derivative of fatty alcohol cetearyl alcohol and a fatty acid from olives. Works to make emulsions stable and offers skin-smoothing emollient properties. Categories: Emollients, Emulsifiers, Texture Enhancer
Good	polyglyceryl-4 laurate Polyglyceryl-4 laurate works as an emollient, emulsifier, and a cleansing agent Categories: Emulsifiers, Emollients
Best	polyglyceryl-4 olivate Polyglyceryl-4 olivate is the plant-derived or synthetic ester of olive oil and polyglycerin. Categories: Emollients, Emulsifiers
Good	myristamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate myristamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate Categories: Skin-Softening, Cleansing Agents, Emulsifiers
Good	polyglyceryl-3 stearate Polyglyceryl-3 stearate is the ester of the fatty acid stearic acid and polyglycerin-3, which is a polymer of glycerin that contains three units. Categories: Emollients, Emulsifiers
Good	olive oil PEG-7 esters Olive oil PEG-7 esters comes from a process known as transesterification. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emollients, Emulsifiers
Good	sodium stearoyl glutamate Sodium stearoyl glutamate is a synthetic or animal-derived ingredient that is added to cosmetics to condition skin or work as an emulsifier. Categories: Emulsifiers, Hydration
Good	PEG-75 stearate PEG-75 stearate is an ester blend of polyethylene glycol and stearic acid. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emulsifiers, Texture Enhancer
Good	PEG-20 glyceryl triisostearate PEG-20 glyceryl triisostearate is an ester of the fatty acid isostearic acid combined with polyethylene glycol and glycerin. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emollients, Emulsifiers, Skin-Softening
Good	glyceryl stearate citrate Glyceryl stearate citrate is an ester of citric acid and glyceryl stearate. Categories: Emulsifiers, Emollients

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Paula Begoun is the best-selling author of 20 books about skincare and makeup. She is known worldwide as The Cosmetics Cop and creator of Paula’s Choice Skincare. Paula’s expertise has led to hundreds of appearances on national and international radio, print, and television including:

The Paula's Choice Research Team is dedicated to busting beauty myths and providing expert advice that solves your skincare frustrations so you can have the best skin of your life!

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