Corn Starch/Maltodextrin Crosspolymer

TL;DR. This ingredient functions mainly as an absorbent and texture modifier, helping powders and emulsions feel smoother while taking up excess oil or moisture. It can also support soft-focus opacity and reduce tack in skin care, makeup, and dry-feel formats.

What does Corn Starch/Maltodextrin Crosspolymer do in a cosmetic formula?

This ingredient functions mainly as an absorbent and texture modifier, helping powders and emulsions feel smoother while taking up excess oil or moisture. It can also support soft-focus opacity and reduce tack in skin care, makeup, and dry-feel formats.

Is Corn Starch/Maltodextrin Crosspolymer clean?

From a clean-beauty perspective, it is generally well tolerated, non-sensitizing, and not a common restricted-list concern. The main quality considerations are processing residues, microbial control, and responsible sourcing documentation from the supplier.

Is Corn Starch/Maltodextrin Crosspolymer sustainable?

This material is typically made from renewable, it-derived carbohydrate feedstocks and is expected to be biodegradable because its backbone is polysaccharide-based. Its sustainability profile depends on agricultural inputs, traceability, and whether the crop supply is conventional, non-GMO, or certified under a specific standard.

Is Corn Starch/Maltodextrin Crosspolymer COSMOS-approved?

It can be compatible with COSMOS-natural style formulations when the feedstocks and crosslinking chemistry meet the standard’s permitted-process requirements, but supplier documentation is needed for confirmation. It aligns reasonably well with Green Chemistry through renewable feedstock use, low irritation profile, and expected biodegradability.

How does Corn Starch/Maltodextrin Crosspolymer work chemically?

The molecule is a crosslinked polysaccharide network, which makes it insoluble but highly capable of binding surface moisture and sebum within a porous particulate structure. It is typically used as a dispersed powder at low to moderate levels, often around 1 to 10%, and is generally stable across normal cosmetic pH ranges because it is not functioning through pH-dependent ionization.

Last updated 2026-08-16