Acrylates/C-10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a synthetic rheology modifier that thickens water-based formulas and helps suspend droplets, pigments, and particles. It is especially useful in gels, creams, lotions, and sunscreen emulsions where stable texture and yield value are needed.
What does Acrylates/C-10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a synthetic rheology modifier that thickens water-based formulas and helps suspend droplets, pigments, and particles. It is especially useful in gels, creams, lotions, and sunscreen emulsions where stable texture and yield value are needed.
Is Acrylates/C-10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it is usually considered low-irritation on skin because the finished material is very large and not meaningfully skin-penetrating. The friction is its synthetic, persistent polymer profile, which places it on some restricted or watch lists focused on non-biodegradable plastics.
Is Acrylates/C-10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer sustainable?
This material is typically made from petrochemical feedstocks and is not readily biodegradable. Its environmental profile is more about persistence than acute skin concern, especially as rinse-off use and wastewater pathways receive more scrutiny.
Is Acrylates/C-10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer COSMOS-approved?
It is not aligned with COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic standards because it is a synthetic crosslinked polymer outside the standard’s allowed ingredient framework. It also scores weakly against Green Chemistry preferences for renewable sourcing, ready biodegradation, and end-of-life simplicity.
How does Acrylates/C-10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer work chemically?
The molecule is a high-molecular-weight, lightly crosslinked anionic network with hydrophobic side chains that swells in water after neutralization to create viscosity and emulsion stability. Typical use is about 0.1 to 1.0%, with best performance often near pH 5.5 to 7.5, while high electrolyte levels can reduce thickening efficiency.
Last updated 2026-08-19