Polysorbate 20. Specialty and DIY Ingredients. Top Selection of Specialty Surfactants. An often used vegetable derived non ionic water soluble surfactant, polyorbate 20, a skin safe product, used to mix oils and waters in all kinds of formulations. Poly 20 as it is also known is often used to blend for example fragrances and water to add to lotions, creams, sprays and other products. Typically a 1:1 ratio is used, blending your fragrances and water in to the product you are making. It is especially useful since although there are other surfactants that may achieve a similar result they are often higher foaming than polysorbates, which are low foaming.