Acrylates Crosspolymer-4
AKA “Carbomer, Acrylic Acid Crosspolymer
Surfactant
Ingredient Facts
Acrylates crosspolymer-4
AKA: Carbomer, Acrylic Acid Crosspolymer
Surfactant · Cleansing · EWG: 4
Synthetic
Cleanser
Occlusive
Emulsifier
Not Clean
Acrylates Crosspolymer-4 is copolymer of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or one of its simple esters, crosslinked with trimethylolpropane triacrylate
CAS #
-
State
Solid
See origin →
Functions
Emulsion Stabilising
Forces oil and water to stay mixed instead of separating into layers. The unsung hero holding your lotion together.
Film Forming
Creates a physical seal on skin to lock moisture in and keep irritants out. The "slugging" ingredient — barrier protection.
Cleansing
Makes oil and water mix so dirt, makeup, and sunscreen can actually be washed away. The reason your face wash foams.
Viscosity Controlling
Stabilizes Emulsion
Creates Protective Barrier
Cleansing Surfactant
Controls Viscosity
Wound Healing
Traditional Use
A synthetic crosspolymer developed for cosmetic applications. Functions as a thickening and suspending agent in modern beauty formulations.
Skin Types
all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USApermitted
EUrestricted
JAPANrestricted
CANADArestricted
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Carbomers-934, -910 -934P -940 -941, and -962
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Acrylates Crosspolymer-4
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
C8-22 Alkyl Acrylates/Methacrylic Acid Crosspolymer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Calcium Potassium Carbomer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Carbomer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
PEG/PPG-5/2 Methacrylate/Methacrylic Acid Crosspolymer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Potassium Carbomer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Sodium Carbomer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
C8-22 Alkyl Acrylates/Methacrylic Acid Crosspolymer
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Carbomer
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Potassium Carbomer
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Sodium Carbomer
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Multifunctional carbomer based ferulic acid hydrogel promotes wound healing in radiation-induced skin injury by inactivating NLRP3 inflammasome.
Huang C, Huangfu C, Bai Z, Zhu L, Shen P et al.
Journal of nanobiotechnology, 2024
Multifunctional carbomer based ferulic acid hydrogel prom...
Congshu Huang, Chaoji Huangfu, Zhijie Bai, Long Zhu, Pan Shen, Ningning Wang + 5 more
Journal of nanobiotechnology, 2024
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR