Polyglycerin-4 ●
TL;DR. This ingredient primarily functions as a humectant and water-binding moisturization aid. It can also support solvent balance, slip, and sensory feel in aqueous skin, hair, and cleansing formulas.
What does Polyglycerin-4 do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient primarily functions as a humectant and water-binding moisturization aid. It can also support solvent balance, slip, and sensory feel in aqueous skin, hair, and cleansing formulas.
Is Polyglycerin-4 clean?
It is generally well-tolerated, low in sensitization concern, and not a common clean-standard restricted-list issue. The main clean-beauty question is feedstock traceability, since commercial grades may come from vegetable or synthetic sources.
Is Polyglycerin-4 sustainable?
This material is commonly made from a simple polyol feedstock that can be plant-derived, often from vegetable oils, but sourcing may involve palm or other commodity crops unless specified. It is water-soluble and expected to have a favorable biodegradation profile compared with persistent film-forming polymers.
Is Polyglycerin-4 COSMOS-approved?
It can fit COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic formulations when the grade meets the standard’s allowed raw-material and processing requirements. From a Green Chemistry view, it aligns well when made from renewable feedstock through efficient condensation chemistry, with good water compatibility and low environmental persistence.
How does Polyglycerin-4 work chemically?
The molecule is a small hydrophilic oligomer built from about four triol units linked by ether bonds, giving it multiple hydroxyl groups for water binding. It is typically used around 0.5% to 5%, is stable across common cosmetic pH ranges, and co-formulates easily with water-phase humectants, surfactants, and emulsifiers.
Last updated 2026-05-13