Surfactants

Surfactants, or surface-active agents, are fundamental ingredients in cosmetics that reduce the surface tension between different phases, allowing oil and water to mix. Their amphiphilic structure enables them to perform four key roles: cleansing (detergents), stabilizing mixtures (emulsifiers), forming foam, and incorporating small amounts of oils into water-based products (solubilizers). These compounds are essential for everything from foaming body washes and shampoos to stable creams and lotions.