SODIUM POLYACRYLATE

📋 Quick facts

Description: SODIUM POLYACRYLATE — thickener, texture stabilizer.

All Functions: thickener, texture stabilizer

Quick Facts:

• Category: other

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Sodium polyacrylate is a polymer commonly used in cosmetics and skincare products
• In patch testing of 1,302 patients, allergic reactions to sodium polyacrylate were extremely rare (one positive reaction with unknown relevance)
• Irritant reactions to sodium polyacrylate occurred in four patients out of 1,302 tested
• Sodium polyacrylate is a superabsorbent material that can absorb large amounts of water
• The ingredient appears unlikely to trigger dermatitis in people without existing acrylate allergies

⚗️ Chemical Overview

See other relationships…

Source(s): PubChem, via PubChem

📊 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

Sodium polyacrylate is an acrylate polymer—a type of plastic-like material made from repeating chemical units. Here’s what the research actually shows about its safety in skincare:

#1: **Allergic contact dermatitis is very rare.** According to Contact Dermatitis (2024), researchers from the British Society for Cutaneous Allergy tested sodium polyacrylate on 1,302 patients using a standard patch test method (applying it to skin under a patch to check for reactions). They found only one positive allergic reaction, and even in that case, the relevance to the person’s actual skin condition was unknown. The authors concluded that “sensitisation to these concentrations of the three tested ACPs is rare” and that “elicitation of dermatitis in (meth)acrylate-sensitised patients by exposure to these three ACPs appears unlikely.” This is reassuring data, though the sample size and testing method are important context.

#2: **Irritant reactions are uncommon but possible.** The same 2024 study found four irritant reactions (redness or inflammation that isn’t true allergy) among the 1,302 patients tested. Irritant reactions differ from allergic ones—they’re a direct response to the substance itself rather than an immune response. Four out of 1,302 is roughly 0.3%, suggesting irritation is not typical. #3: **Sodium polyacrylate is highly absorbent.** Research in Journal of Functional Biomaterials (2023) describes sodium polyacrylate as a “superabsorbent” polymer. This property is why it’s sometimes used in skincare formulations—the material can hold many times its weight in water. The 2023 research showed that when sodium polyacrylate was combined with gelatin in laboratory scaffolds, the material swelled to absorb water equivalent to 6,265–6,948% of its original weight, making it extremely hydrophilic (water-loving).

**Important limitations:** The available research focuses primarily on safety and allergenic potential rather than skincare benefits. The most robust data comes from the allergenicity study, which is reassuring but doesn’t tell us much about what sodium polyacrylate actually does for skin health or appearance. The other sources examine industrial and medical uses (gas sensors, blood clotting, leather preservation, fiber manufacturing) rather than cosmetic applications.

📄 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.
• Romih T et al. (2020). Sodium-Polyacrylate-Based Electrochemical Sensors for Highly Sensitive Detection of Gaseous Phenol at Room Temperature. ACS Sens.
• Jahan N et al. (2023). In Vivo and In Vitro Investigation of a Novel Gelatin/Sodium Polyacrylate Composite Hemostatic Sponge for Topical Bleeding. J Funct Biomater.
• Balasubramanian V et al. (2019). Studies on the use of sodium polyacrylate (SPA) for low-salt animal skin preservation. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int.
• Biswas MC et al. (2022). Using Sodium Polyacrylate to Gel-Spin Lignin/Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Fiber at High Lignin Content. Polymers (Basel).

🧴 Products Containing SODIUM POLYACRYLATE

• NIVEA CARE – Крем для лица для чувствительной кожи
• Natura es tonica
• Bulldog Soin Hydratant Peau Sensible Baobab Avoine Epilobe
• Bulldog,Wilkinson Sword Bull Dog Hautpflege Original After Shave Balsam + Aloe Vera
• Hawaiian Tropic Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydratation
• Hosc distribution aps Jan Thomas Shampoo Volume 250ml
• Nacomï White Black Face Mask
• fresh skin face
• Crema verbal corporal de Sandalo – Just
• Alès groupe, Laboratoires Liérac, Liérac, Liérac Paris, Magnificence Magnificence nuit gel-en-baume lissant détoxifiant rides – fermeté – éclat
• Bilboa Burrocacao Latte Solare. Pelli delicate. 30 SPF
• Belifor Coloration Douss Color 134 Marron Chocolat – 131ML – Beliflor
• Biafine SoleilBiafine Lait protecteur ultra-hydratant triple résistance FPS 50+
• Deliplus Anti manchas
• Giorgi Fijación y textura
• Tabaibaloe Aloe cream
• facial suncare wes
• Biocura Intensive hair care
• Deliplus fussion
• Deliplus Regen skin Deliplus
• LOOPS Dark Spot Mask
• Tula TULA bedtime bright
• Cien cleaning mask
• Pirinç mayası rıce yeast pure essential toner
• Leader Price Soin hydratant peaux sèches & sensibles
• La Roche Posay Cicaplast Mains
• Bioderma Bioderma Lait de toilette ABCDerm
• Rituals Infinity Organic Mandarin & Mint lotion ultra soignante pour les mains
• L’Oréal, L’Oreal Consumer products, Garnier crème hydratante mains
• Yves Rocher Elixir 7.9 roll-on Regard
• Yves Rocher Vanille Noire Secrets d’Essences
• Palmer’s Crema para el busto
• Lubriderm English
• Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gentle Cleansing Lotion
• Banana Boat UltraSport Faces Sunscreen Lotion UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum SPF 30
• Cetaphil Pro Dry Skin
• Cetaphil Baby Eczema Soothing Lotion
• La vie est à Nous Soin + – peau à boutons
• Crew Shaving Gel
• Nivea Creme