ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER

📋 Quick facts

Description: ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER — thickener, gel-forming agent.

All Functions: thickener, gel-forming agent

Quick Facts:

• Category: other

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• It’s a thickening polymer used to create stable textures in creams, gels, and emulsions
• Allergic reactions to this ingredient are extremely rare in patch testing (0 reactions among 1,302 patients tested)
• It’s an anionic (negatively charged) ingredient that can interact with some other cosmetic components
• It helps cosmetic formulations feel smoother and more consistent on skin

📊 Comedogenicity

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate cross-polymer is a synthetic polymer—a long chain of linked molecules—used primarily as a thickener in skincare products. The name describes its chemical structure: it’s made from acrylate compounds cross-linked together, with alkyl (hydrocarbon) chains of 10 to 30 carbons attached. You may also see it labeled as Carbopol® or Pemulen TR-2® depending on the brand. #1: Texture and stability. This ingredient helps create stable emulsions (mixtures of oil and water that would normally separate) by acting as a polymeric thickener. When used in combinations with other polymers, it shows a synergistic effect, meaning the mixture becomes more stable than each ingredient would alone (Acta Pol Pharm, 2017).

It also influences how a product feels on your skin—research measuring textural properties shows it affects parameters like consistency and viscosity, essentially how thick or thin and how easily it spreads (Int J Cosmet Sci, 2014). #2: Allergy safety profile. A 2024 study from Contact Dermatitis tested this ingredient at 2% concentration on 1,302 patients, including those with suspected acrylate allergies and those with facial dermatitis. There were zero reactions detected. The researchers concluded that sensitization to this ingredient is rare and that people already allergic to other acrylates are unlikely to develop dermatitis from exposure to this specific polymer at these concentrations (Contact Dermatitis, 2024).

#3: Interactions with other ingredients. This is an anionic (negatively charged) polymer that can interact with surfactants and other charged ingredients in formulations. Research shows it undergoes hydrophobic interactions—meaning the oily parts of its molecular structure interact with similar oily components—when combined with certain surfactants, and these interactions can change the viscosity and gel-like properties of the product (Int J Pharm, 1999). One notable study found that when used in alcohol-based products, anionic thickeners including this ingredient can reduce the effectiveness of chlorhexidine gluconate (an antimicrobial preservative) if they’re used together (Am J Infect Control, 2009)—though this is a concern mainly for preservative efficacy rather than skin safety.

The sources are limited to specific functional and safety properties; there are no studies here demonstrating direct skincare benefits like moisturization, anti-aging effects, or treatment of specific skin conditions.

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Soriano LF et al. (2024). Sensitisation to the acrylate co-polymers glyceryl acrylate/acrylic acid co-polymer, sodium polyacrylate and acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate cross-polymer (Carbopol®) is rare. Contact Dermatitis.
• Kizeviciene E et al. (2017). EVALUATION OF ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSS- POLYMER MIXTURE EFFECTIVENESS ON O/W TYPE EMULSION FORMULATION. Acta Pol Pharm.
• Tai A et al. (2014). Texture analysis of cosmetic/pharmaceutical raw materials and formulations. Int J Cosmet Sci.
• Simovic S et al. (1999). An investigation into interactions between polyacrylic polymers and a non-ionic surfactant: an emulsion preformulation study. Int J Pharm.
• Kaiser N et al. (2009). Inactivation of chlorhexidine gluconate on skin by incompatible alcohol hand sanitizing gels. Am J Infect Control.

🧴 Products Containing ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER

• Nivea Gel de Limpeza Facial Nivea Controle do Brilho
• Nivea Men NIVEA Men Active Energy Hydraterende Dagcrème
• Nivea Nivea q10 plus anti rides
• Nivea Lait corps sous la douche nourissant
• Nivea, Nivea Men NIVEA Men Hyaluron Anti-age Gezichtscrème
• Beiesdorf, Nivea, Nivea Sun Protect & Hydrate 30 haute
• Nivea Sun kids Lait protecteur Protect & Sensitive
• Nivea NIVEA CREME DARK SPOT REDUCTION
• Nivea Baby sun Crème solaire très haute protection FPS 50+
• Nivea crème solaire visage nivea
• Nivea Sun Kids Lait Protecteur Format Voyage
• BRYNILD GRUPPEN AS Nivea Day Care Q10 Plus C 50ml
• BRYNILD GRUPPEN AS Nivea Rice Scrub Smooth 75ml
• Balea Beauty Effect Tagescreme
• Sun Dance, Sundance Sonnenmilch 30 (hoch)
• Sun dance, Sundance Sonnen light Lotion mit Kokosduft 20 mittel
• GEHWOL med Express Pflege-Schaum
• douglas seathalasso
• Cien sensitive SOLLOTION
• Sun Dance, Sundance Sonnencreme-Gel Sport
• bilou Cotton Candy
• АО "Ступинский химический завод" гель для бритья men ultra one
• Fancl Core effector
• Tiger Moon Retinol Night Cream
• L’Oréal, L’Oreal Luxe, The Body Shop Vitamin E Gentle Facial Wash
• MAN CAVE Lemon & Oak SHOWER GEL
• Laab MEN Multi-Booster Ultralekki krem nawilżająco-kojący
• Ponds
• apoteket Sollotion SPF 30
• apoteket Sollotion SPF 30
• Änglamark Änglamark Sun Lotion, SPF15
• Maria Nila Styling cream
• Unilever, Dove Crema corporal ritual energizante
• Lubridem
• Arrurrú Crema avena
• Coop, Io Coop Crema Solare 50+
• Coop latte solare fresca idratazione protezione bassa 6
• Dove Baby Dove Derma Care Soothing Wash
• DOVE Baby Dove
• Eucerin Lotion Sun Protection kids SPF 50+