Personal Care & Cosmetic Ingredients

Both are ethoxylated sorbitan esters with about 20 units of ethylene oxide. Polysorbate 20 is based on lauric acid (HLB about 16.7) and is widely used to solubilise fragrance and essential oils in toners, mists and clear gels. Polysorbate 80 is based on oleic acid (HLB about 15) and suits emulsifying and solubilising heavier oils. Polysorbate 40 (palmitate) and Polysorbate 60 (stearate) are mainly used as oil-in-water emulsifiers in creams and lotions.

Self-emulsifying GMS contains a small amount of potassium or sodium stearate, which lets it build creams and lotions without a separate emulsifier. Ordinary GMS is a weak, low-HLB emulsifier and is usually paired with a high-HLB partner such as PEG 100 Stearate, the familiar glyceryl stearate and PEG-100 stearate system. Because the soap in GMS-SE is anionic, it is less tolerant of low pH and high electrolyte levels.

Sodium cocoyl isethionate and sodium lauroyl isethionate are mild anionic surfactants that give rich, creamy lather close to neutral pH. Traditional soap bars are alkaline, typically around pH 9-10, while isethionate syndet bars are usually formulated nearer pH 5.5-7, closer to skin. Isethionates also do not form lime-soap scum in hard water. SCI is the usual base for syndet and shampoo bars; SLI is the lauric (C12) version, valued for high foam.

Behentrimonium chloride (BTAC) has a C22 chain and gives stronger, more substantive conditioning and detangling, so it is the usual choice for rinse-off conditioners and hair masks. Cetrimonium chloride (CTAC) has a C16 chain, is water-soluble and gives lighter conditioning and anti-static effect, suiting light conditioners, hair colour and creams. Both are normally combined with cetostearyl alcohol to build the conditioner's cream base.

Not in the EU: the 3:1 CMIT/MIT mixture is permitted only in rinse-off cosmetics, at up to 0.0015% (15 ppm), because of its skin-sensitising potential. Leave-on creams and lotions therefore commonly use phenoxyethanol, allowed at up to 1% in the EU, or a phenoxyethanol-ethylhexylglycerin blend. Check the rules for every market you sell into, and confirm preservative efficacy with a challenge test on your own formula.

Yes. Samples are available on request so you can run stability, viscosity and foam trials before ordering. Tell us the INCI name, grade and end product, and we confirm make and specification first. Every batch ships with the manufacturer's COA and SDS, and production orders can start from trial quantities before moving to regular bag or drum volumes.