Carbomer 940 ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a rheology modifier and gel-forming thickener. It builds clear, high-viscosity gels and helps stabilize emulsions or suspend particles once neutralized.
What does Carbomer 940 do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a rheology modifier and gel-forming thickener. It builds clear, high-viscosity gels and helps stabilize emulsions or suspend particles once neutralized.
Is Carbomer 940 clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it is usually well tolerated on skin at typical use levels, but it carries clean-standard friction because it is a synthetic polymer. Older grades can also raise residual solvent questions, so specifications and supplier documentation matter.
Is Carbomer 940 sustainable?
This material is generally made from petrochemical feedstocks and is not readily biodegradable. Its high molecular weight limits skin penetration, but environmental persistence is the main sustainability concern.
Is Carbomer 940 COSMOS-approved?
It is not aligned with COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic expectations for biodegradable, nature-derived ingredients. From a Green Chemistry view, it scores poorly on renewable sourcing and end-of-life profile, even though it is effective at very low use levels.
How does Carbomer 940 work chemically?
The molecule is a high-molecular-weight, crosslinked anionic polymer with many carboxyl groups that swell in water after neutralization. Typical use is about 0.1% to 1.0%, with best viscosity around pH 5.5 to 7.5, while high electrolyte levels and polyvalent ions can thin the gel.
Last updated 2026-08-16