Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Copolymer ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a synthetic film former and binder that helps products set into a flexible, water-resistant layer. It is used in hair styling, sunscreens, mascaras, and color cosmetics to improve hold, wear, and rub resistance.
What does Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Copolymer do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a synthetic film former and binder that helps products set into a flexible, water-resistant layer. It is used in hair styling, sunscreens, mascaras, and color cosmetics to improve hold, wear, and rub resistance.
Is Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Copolymer clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient has friction because it is a synthetic persistent polymer and may be flagged under microplastic policies or brand restricted lists. It is generally low-irritation when well polymerized, with quality control focused on residual monomers.
Is Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Copolymer sustainable?
This material is typically petroleum-derived and is not readily biodegradable. Its main sustainability concern is environmental persistence after rinse-off use, although wastewater treatment may capture a portion of the polymer solids.
Is Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Copolymer COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic standards as a conventional synthetic petrochemical polymer. Its fit with Green Chemistry is weak because it relies on nonrenewable feedstocks and has limited biodegradability, even though water-based polymer dispersions can reduce solvent use in manufacturing.
How does Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Copolymer work chemically?
The molecule is a high-molecular-weight, film-forming polymer built from soft hydrophobic ester units with more polar acid or salt-bearing units that help dispersion and adhesion. Typical use is often around 0.5% to 10% as supplied depending on solids and format, and performance can be sensitive to pH, electrolytes, and incompatible cationic ingredients.
Last updated 2026-05-13