"Sorbitan" refers to the ingredient sorbitan hydride. Sorbitan consists of a mixture of several isomeric cyclic compounds, which are formed by the splitting off of a molecule of water from sorbitol. "Dioleates" means the diester of oleic acid.
Sorbitan dioleate is used in cosmetic formulations. The sorbitan fatty acid diester acts as an emulsifier (surface-active substance which is used in cosmetic formulations as an auxiliary agent to combine two immiscible liquids - e.g. oil and water - to form an emulsion).