n. The process in an oil-in-water emulsion by which oil diffuses from the smaller droplets, across the aqueous phase, and into the larger droplets. The driving force for diffusion is the minimization of interfacial free energy by accumulating oil in larger droplets. Ostwald ripening can be mitigated by the addition of a co-stabilizer. The concentration of the co-stabilizer caused by monomer diffusion counters the reduction in interfacial area, causing an equilibrium condition.