Polyvinyl Alcohol
AKA “PVA, Poly(vinyl alcohol), PVOH”
Ingredient
Ingredient Facts
Polyvinyl alcohol
AKA: PVA, Poly(vinyl alcohol), PVOH
Ingredient · Film Forming · EWG: 1
Synthetic
Occlusive
Clean
Ethenol, homopolymer
CAS #
9002-89-5, 25213-24-5
Form
Liquid
State
Liquid
See origin →
Functions
Film Forming
Creates a physical seal on skin to lock moisture in and keep irritants out. The "slugging" ingredient — barrier protection.
Viscosity Controlling
Creates Protective Barrier
Controls Viscosity
Anti-Aging Benefits
Antioxidant Protection
Reduces Inflammation
Creates protective layer
Controls product thickness
Traditional Use
First synthesized in 1924 by Hermann Leuchs. Introduced to cosmetics in the latter half of the 20th century as a film-forming, thickening, and emulsifying agent in skincare masks and formulations.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR