Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Crosspolymer ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a synthetic rheology modifier and thickener. It helps build gel-like viscosity, suspend particles, stabilize emulsions, and improve texture in water-based formulas.
What does Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Crosspolymer do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a synthetic rheology modifier and thickener. It helps build gel-like viscosity, suspend particles, stabilize emulsions, and improve texture in water-based formulas.
Is Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Crosspolymer clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient has friction because it is a synthetic crosslinked polymer with limited biodegradability. Processing-residue controls for trace 1,4-dioxane may also be relevant because part of the molecule is made through ethoxylation.
Is Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Crosspolymer sustainable?
This material is typically petrochemical-derived and is not considered readily biodegradable. Its environmental profile is mainly a persistence concern rather than an acute-use concern in finished products.
Is Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Crosspolymer COSMOS-approved?
This ingredient is not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic standards. It has weak Green Chemistry alignment because it relies on synthetic polymer chemistry, petrochemical feedstocks, and limited biodegradation.
How does Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Crosspolymer work chemically?
The molecule is a crosslinked, high-molecular-weight associative polymer with water-compatible polyether segments and hydrophobic chains that interact with surfactant micelles and oil droplets to build viscosity. It is typically used at low levels, often below a few percent, and viscosity performance depends on neutralization, pH, electrolytes, surfactant type, and shear during processing.
Last updated 2026-08-20