Polyquaternium-30 ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a cationic film-former and conditioning polymer, used mainly in hair products to improve combing, reduce static, and add hold or a smooth feel.
What does Polyquaternium-30 do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a cationic film-former and conditioning polymer, used mainly in hair products to improve combing, reduce static, and add hold or a smooth feel.
Is Polyquaternium-30 clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it often faces scrutiny because it is a synthetic quaternary polymer rather than a simple biodegradable conditioner. It is generally low in direct skin irritation at normal use levels, but residual monomers and aquatic profile are the main clean-standard friction points.
Is Polyquaternium-30 sustainable?
This material is synthetically made from petrochemical-derived monomers and is not considered readily biodegradable. Its cationic charge can increase binding to sludge and aquatic surfaces, so environmental persistence is the main sustainability concern.
Is Polyquaternium-30 COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted under COSMOS organic or natural standards because it is a synthetic quaternary polymer outside the standard’s allowed ingredient routes. Its fit with Green Chemistry is weak, with non-renewable feedstocks, polymer persistence, and limited biodegradability weighing against it.
How does Polyquaternium-30 work chemically?
This material is a water-soluble cationic vinyl polymer with permanent positive charges that adsorb strongly to negatively charged hair and skin surfaces. It is typically used at low levels, often around 0.1% to 2% depending on product type, and it can be incompatible with strongly anionic systems because charge pairing can cause hazing or precipitation.
Last updated 2026-05-13