Acrylic Acid/Stearyl Acrylate Copolymer

AKA: Acrylic polymer, Thickener

Plant-Derived

Occlusive

Emulsifier

Acid

Not Clean

2-Propenoic Acid, Polymer with Octadecyl 2-Propenoate

CAS #

36120-03-3

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.

Stabilizes Emulsion

Creates Protective Barrier

Fights Bacteria

Locks In Moisture

Creates protective layer

Keeps product blended

Traditional Use

A synthetic polymer created for cosmetic use to provide thickening and emulsifying properties. Used in cream and lotion formulations as an alternative to traditional natural thickeners.

EWG

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

Regulatory Agencies

EWG CIR FDA EU COSING Health Canada

Skin Types

●all-skin-types

Best For

General

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe

Yes

The paper trail

🔬Peer-reviewednone on file

⚖️Regulatory1 listing →

🛡️Safety-assessed2 reviews →

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

Verified Jun 2026

Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR