SORBITAN LAURATE
Sorbitan Laurate is a sorbitan ester made with lauric acid. It is also called sorbitan monolaurate: both names refer to the same substance, in which a sorbitol-derived, dehydrated portion is linked to lauric acid.
SORBITAN LAURATE: what it is
Sorbitan Laurate is a sorbitan ester made with lauric acid. It is also called sorbitan monolaurate: both names refer to the same substance, in which a sorbitol-derived, dehydrated portion is linked to lauric acid.
The word laurate points to that lauric-acid link; it does not identify a botanical extract or an oil applied directly to skin. Its structure has a portion that associates with oil and another that interacts with water, which explains its role in bringing together phases that do not naturally mix.
SORBITAN LAURATE: what it does in cosmetics
In a cosmetic containing water and oily components, Sorbitan Laurate helps the two phases form a more even emulsion. In everyday terms, it helps disperse the oil phase through the product instead of allowing an obvious split from the water phase, which matters to the consistency of creams and lotions.
Its role is therefore mainly structural: it helps a product retain a uniform look and texture during use. A safety review of sorbitan esters also places it within a group used as surfactant-emulsifiers; that describes how the formula behaves, not a skin treatment.
Products containing this ingredient
See which products include it and the name used in each composition.
