Polyquaternium-53
AKA “PQ-53, Polyquaternium-53
Synthetic
Ingredient Facts
Polyquaternium-53
AKA: PQ-53
Synthetic · Film Forming · EWG: 4
Synthetic
Occlusive
Skin Conditioner
Hair Care
Synthetic
Clean
A conditioning agent that smooths and softens hair while helping it retain moisture and shine.
CAS #
84647-38-1
Form
Liquid
See origin →
Functions
Hair Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Film Forming
Creates a physical seal on skin to lock moisture in and keep irritants out. The "slugging" ingredient — barrier protection.
Antistatic
Conditions Hair
Softens and detangles hair
Traditional Use
A modern synthetic polymer created as a conditioning and antistatic agent for cosmetics. Developed to provide improved hair and skin conditioning properties compared to earlier polymer formulations.
Skin Types
all-skin-types
Best For
General
Melanin-Rich Skin
Suitable
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
EWG
4
CIR
Safe
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USApermitted
EUpermitted
JAPANpermitted
CANADApermitted
Verified Feb 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR