VP/Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer

AKA: P(VA-co-Nvp), Vinylpyrrolidone vinyl alcohol, 1-vinyl pyrrolidone vinyl alcohol

Synthetic

Humectant

Occlusive

Not Clean

VP/Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer is the product formed by the polymerization and subsequent hydrolysis of vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate.

Effective at 5.15%

Formula

C8H13NO2

Mol. Weight

155.19

CAS #

26008-54-8

Form

Liquid

State

Liquid

Functions

Film Forming

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

Hair Fixing

Humectant

A moisture magnet. Pulls water from the air and deeper skin layers up to the surface to keep skin plump and hydrated.

Viscosity Controlling

Locks In Moisture

Traditional Use

Created as a synthetic polymer in the mid-20th century for cosmetic formulations. Used as a film-forming and stabilizing agent in hair care and skincare products.

EWG

CIR

Safe as used

Pregnancy

Yes

CIR Safety Findings

Not a Sensitizer

medical-approval

all-shades-safe

Concentration Guide

3.0%

7.3%

0%10%

Reported use

CIR reported use: 3-7.3

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: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR