Acrylates Copolymer ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is used as a film-former, thickener, suspending agent, and texture stabilizer in skin care, hair care, color cosmetics, and sunscreens. It helps products spread evenly, hold pigments or filters in place, and create water-resistant or flexible films.
What does Acrylates Copolymer do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is used as a film-former, thickener, suspending agent, and texture stabilizer in skin care, hair care, color cosmetics, and sunscreens. It helps products spread evenly, hold pigments or filters in place, and create water-resistant or flexible films.
Is Acrylates Copolymer clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient has friction because it is a synthetic polymer with limited biodegradability and is often scrutinized under microplastic policies. Skin irritation is usually low, but the main concern is environmental profile rather than direct use tolerance.
Is Acrylates Copolymer sustainable?
This material is typically made from fossil-derived monomers and does not readily biodegrade in the environment. In rinse-off formats, wastewater treatment may reduce release, but it does not fully resolve persistence concerns.
Is Acrylates Copolymer COSMOS-approved?
It is generally not permitted in COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic products because it is a synthetic, non-readily biodegradable polymer. Its Green Chemistry fit is weak due to fossil feedstock reliance and environmental persistence, even though it can improve formula stability at low use levels.
How does Acrylates Copolymer work chemically?
The molecule is a high-molecular-weight polymer built from ester- and acid-functional vinyl monomer units, with grade-dependent behavior as a dispersible film former, alkali-swellable thickener, or stabilizing resin. Typical use can range from about 0.1% to 5%, and some grades require neutralization around mildly acidic to neutral pH to fully develop viscosity or film performance.
Last updated 2026-05-13