Polyquaternium-73 ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is primarily a cationic conditioning polymer and film-former. It deposits on hair and skin surfaces to improve slip, reduce static, and support a smoother feel after rinsing or drying.
What does Polyquaternium-73 do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is primarily a cationic conditioning polymer and film-former. It deposits on hair and skin surfaces to improve slip, reduce static, and support a smoother feel after rinsing or drying.
Is Polyquaternium-73 clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it has friction because it is a synthetic quaternary polymer rather than a simple biodegradable conditioning agent. It is generally used at low levels, but cationic polymers can raise irritation and aquatic-profile questions in stricter standards.
Is Polyquaternium-73 sustainable?
This material is synthetically produced, typically from petrochemical-derived monomers, and it is not considered readily biodegradable. Its charged polymer structure can persist in wastewater streams and may bind to sludge or surfaces rather than breaking down quickly.
Is Polyquaternium-73 COSMOS-approved?
It is not aligned with COSMOS-organic or COSMOS-natural expectations for natural-origin, biodegradable materials. From a Green Chemistry view, its main compromises are synthetic feedstocks, polymer persistence, and limited end-of-life biodegradation.
How does Polyquaternium-73 work chemically?
The molecule is a high-molecular-weight, permanently charged cationic polymer with quaternary ammonium functionality that adsorbs to negatively charged keratin and skin surfaces. Typical use is in the low fractional-percent range, often around 0.05% to 1%, and it is generally pH-stable but can interact strongly with anionic surfactants or polymers.
Last updated 2026-05-14