POLYAMINOPROPYL BIGUANIDE ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is used as an antimicrobial preservative, mainly to control bacteria in water-based cosmetics and personal care products.
What does POLYAMINOPROPYL BIGUANIDE do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is used as an antimicrobial preservative, mainly to control bacteria in water-based cosmetics and personal care products.
Is POLYAMINOPROPYL BIGUANIDE clean?
From a clean beauty perspective, it has notable friction because it is a synthetic preservative with regulatory concentration limits and frequent restricted-list treatment. It is not a low-concern preservative choice in many clean frameworks.
Is POLYAMINOPROPYL BIGUANIDE sustainable?
This material is synthetic and typically petrochemical-derived. It is not a strong fit for biodegradability-focused standards, and its cationic polymer nature raises aquatic persistence concerns.
Is POLYAMINOPROPYL BIGUANIDE COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted in COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic formulations. Its synthetic origin, limited biodegradability profile, and preservative restrictions put it at odds with core Green Chemistry preferences.
How does POLYAMINOPROPYL BIGUANIDE work chemically?
The molecule is a water-soluble cationic polymer with multiple protonated nitrogen centers that interact with microbial cell membranes. Where allowed, cosmetic use is commonly capped at 0.1%, and performance can be reduced by strongly anionic surfactants or polymers through complexation.
Last updated 2026-05-13