Acrylates Crosspolymer-4

Acrylates Crosspolymer-4 molecular structure
molecular structure · PubChem
AKA: Carbomer, Acrylic Acid Crosspolymer
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
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.
EWG
4
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
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed1 review →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR