Acrylates Crosspolymer-5

AKA: Carbomer, Acrylic Acid Crosspolymer

Synthetic

Occlusive

Not Clean

Acrylates Crosspolymer-5 is a cosmetic ingredient. Assessed as safe by the CIR.

Form

Liquid

State

Solid

Functions

Film Forming

Creates a physical seal on skin to lock moisture in and keep irritants out. The "slugging" ingredient — barrier protection.

Viscosity Controlling

Absorbs Excess Oil

Wound Healing

Traditional Use

A modern synthetic polymer variant used in cosmetic formulations. Provides thickening and stabilization properties in gels and emulsions.

EWG

CIR

Safe as used

Pregnancy

Yes

Restricted By

CIR Safety Findings

Not a Sensitizer

medical-approval

all-shades-safe

Regulatory Status

USA✔ permitted

EU⚠ restricted

JAPAN⚠ restricted

CANADA⚠ restricted

Regulatory Agencies

Skin Types

●all-skin-types

Best For

General

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe

Yes

The paper trail

🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →

⚖️Regulatory0 listings

🛡️Safety-assessed1 review →

Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.

Verified Jun 2026

Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR