Acrylates/VP Copolymer
molecular structure · PubChem
AKA: Acrylates/Vinyl Pyrrolidone Copolymer
Synthetic
Occlusive
Clean
Copolymer formed from vinylpyrrolidone and one or more monomers of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or one of their simple esters
Effective at 5.15%
CAS #
26589-26-4
Form
Liquid
State
Solid
Functions
Binding
Film Forming
Creates a physical seal on skin to lock moisture in and keep irritants out. The "slugging" ingredient — barrier protection.
Hair Fixing
Holds Formula Together
Creates Protective Barrier
Locks In Moisture
Anti-Aging Benefits
Antioxidant Protection
Creates protective layer
Holds hair in place
Holds ingredients together
Traditional Use
Developed in the latter half of the 20th century as a synthetic polymer. Provides film-forming and thickening properties in hairsprays, gels, and other cosmetic formulations.
EWG
1
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
ewg-1
medical-approval
pregnancy-nursing-safe
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
3.0%
7.3%
0%10%
Reported use
CIR reported use: 3-7.3
Regulatory Agencies
Skin Types
●all-skin-types, gentle
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewednone on file
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed3 reviews →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR