murphyEthyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer
molecular structure · PubChem
AKA: Film-former, Hair conditioning polymer
Synthetic
Occlusive
Clean
2-Butanedioic acid (Z)-, monoethyl ester, polymer with methoxyethene
CAS #
25087-06-3
Form
Liquid
State
Liquid
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
Functions
Antistatic
Film Forming
Creates a physical seal on skin to lock moisture in and keep irritants out. The "slugging" ingredient — barrier protection.
Hair Fixing
Moisturizing
Strengthens Barrier
Creates protective layer
Reduces flyaways
Holds hair in place
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed2 reviews →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
EWG
1
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not an Eye Irritant
1 study / 1 not irritating (CIR 95)
Not a Skin Irritant
2 studies / 2 not irritating (CIR 95)
Not a Sensitizer
2 studies / 2 not sensitizing (CIR 95 and 545)
Not Phototoxic
Human test found no phototoxicity in the CIR safety assessment (CIR 95)
Regulatory Agencies
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR