Substituting Oil Blender with Sorbitan Stearate

You asked if Sorbitan Stearate can be used as a substitute for Oil Blender (Polyglyceryl-3-Diisostearate).

Both Oil Blender and Sorbitan Stearate are water-in-oil emulsifiers used in cosmetic formulations. However, they have some differences in their primary functions and recommended uses:

• Oil Blender (Polyglyceryl-3-Diisostearate) is specifically designed to blend various oils and silicones, and to improve the texture of oil-based formulas, such as butters or pressed powders, preventing clumping or granulation. While it can help "cement" water-in-oil emulsions, it is not intended to be the main emulsifier for stable W/O emulsions on its own and often requires a co-emulsifier like Magnesium Sulfate. It also requires heating to 70°C for mixing.
• Sorbitan Stearate (eq. Span 60) is a more general water-in-oil emulsifier with an HLB of approximately 4.7, used as a water-oil binder. It is mixed in the oil phase.

Given these differences, Sorbitan Stearate may not be a direct substitute for Oil Blender in all applications, particularly where Oil Blender's specific oil-blending or texture-enhancing properties are crucial. While both can function as W/O binders, their performance and stability in a specific formula might differ.

Therefore, while Sorbitan Stearate is also a W/O emulsifier, it may not fully replicate the performance of Oil Blender, especially in formulations where Oil Blender's unique characteristics are utilized.