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Sodium Polyacrylate
AKA “Polyacrylate, Polymer Thickener”
Emollient
Ingredient Facts
Sodium polyacrylate
AKA: Polymer Thickener
Emollient · Emollient · EWG: 2
Synthetic
Emollient
Occlusive
Emulsifier
Skin Conditioner
Clean
2-Propenoic acid, homopolymer, sodium salt
CAS #
9003-04-7, 25549-84-2
See origin →
Functions
Absorbent
Binding
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.
Hair Fixing
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Emollient
Fills in the tiny cracks between skin cells to make everything feel smooth and soft. The "silky finish" ingredient.
Viscosity Controlling
Locks In Moisture
Traditional Use
A synthetic superabsorbent polymer developed in the 1960s-70s. Used in cosmetics as a thickening and gelling agent, particularly in creams and lotions.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
EWG
2
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USA✔ permitted
EU⚠ restricted
JAPAN⚠ restricted
CANADA⚠ restricted
Scientific Literature Review: Safety Assessment of Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Tentative Report: Safety Assessment of Polyacrylate-13 as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Ammonium Polyacrylate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Polyacrylate-1 Crosspolymer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Polyacrylate-12
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Polyacrylate-13
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Polyacrylate-14
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Polyacrylate-15
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Polyacrylate-16
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Polyacrylate-18
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Polyacrylate-2
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Polyacrylate-21
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Polyacrylate-29
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Polyacrylate-30
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Polyacrylate-34
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Polyacrylate-5
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Potassium Aluminum Polyacrylate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Potassium Polyacrylate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Sodium Polyacrylate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Ammonium Polyacrylate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Polyacrylate-13
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Polyacrylate-14
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Polyacrylate-15
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Polyacrylate-16
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Polyacrylate-2
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Sodium Polyacrylate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Polyacrylate crosspolymer-11 enhances soil clay dispersibility: An indication for inadvertent environmental impacts from personal care and cosmetic in
Nguyen LN, Nguyen AM, Nguyen MT, Dinh VM, Mai NT et al.
The Science of the total environment, 2022
→
Polyacrylate crosspolymer-11 enhances soil clay dispersibility: An indication for inadvertent environmental impacts from personal care and cosmetic in
Nguyen LN, Nguyen AM, Nguyen MT, Dinh VM, Mai NT et al.
The Science of the total environment, 2022
→
Polyacrylate crosspolymer-11 enhances soil clay dispersibility: An indication for inadvertent environmental impacts from personal care and cosmetic in
Nguyen LN, Nguyen AM, Nguyen MT, Dinh VM, Mai NT et al.
The Science of the total environment, 2022
→
Sensitisation to the acrylate co-polymers glyceryl acrylate/acrylic acid co-polymer, sodium polyacrylate and acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate cross-pol
Soriano LF, Chowdhury MMU, Cousen P, Dawe S, Ghaffar SA et al.
Contact dermatitis, 2024
→
Sensitisation to the acrylate co-polymers glyceryl acrylate/acrylic acid co-polymer, sodium polyacrylate and acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate cross-pol
Soriano LF, Chowdhury MMU, Cousen P, Dawe S, Ghaffar SA et al.
Contact dermatitis, 2024
→
Sensitisation to the acrylate co-polymers glyceryl acrylate/acrylic acid co-polymer, sodium polyacrylate and acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate cross-pol
Soriano LF, Chowdhury MMU, Cousen P, Dawe S, Ghaffar SA et al.
Contact dermatitis, 2024
→
Sensitisation to the acrylate co-polymers glyceryl acrylate/acrylic acid co-polymer, sodium polyacrylate and acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate cross-pol
Soriano LF, Chowdhury MMU, Cousen P, Dawe S, Ghaffar SA et al.
Contact dermatitis, 2024
→
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR