Polyquaternium-11

Polyquaternium-11 1
Synthetic
Occlusive
Clean
2-Propenoic acid, 2-methyl-, 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl ester, polymer with 1-ethenyl-2-pyrrolidinone, compd. with diethyl sulphate
CAS #
53633-54-8
Form
Powder
Functions
Antistatic
Film Forming
Creates a physical seal on skin to lock moisture in and keep irritants out. The "slugging" ingredient — barrier protection.
Anti-Inflammatory
Moisturizing
Fights Acne
Creates protective layer
Reduces flyaways
Traditional Use
A synthetic cationic polymer developed for cosmetic use in the 1980s. Created to provide enhanced conditioning and styling benefits in haircare products with improved substantivity compared to earlier polyquaternium versions.
EWG
1
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-assessed3 reviews →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR