Polyacrylic Acid

Polyacrylic Acid is a cosmetic ingredient used as a binding, emulsion stabilising agent. It is used in 102 products in our dataset. It is regulated in the EU (listed in a Cosmetics Regulation annex). PubMed carries 498 studies of its skin or topical use.

INCI namePOLYACRYLIC ACID
FunctionBINDING, EMULSION STABILISING, FILM FORMING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING
CAS number9003-01-4
Prevalence102 products (0.11% of dataset)
Most used inSkincare
EU statusRestricted (annex )
Scientific studies498 on PubMed (skin/cosmetic/topical)
Monthly searches2,400

Used in

Eye Masks 20.6%Sheet Masks 15.7%General Moisturizers 6.9%Sunscreens 6.9%Mascaras 5.9%Eyebrows 4.9%

Frequently asked

What does Polyacrylic Acid do in skincare?
Polyacrylic Acid functions as a binding, emulsion stabilising agent in cosmetic formulas.
Is Polyacrylic Acid allowed in cosmetics?
Yes, but it is regulated in the EU — it appears in a Cosmetics Regulation annex with usage conditions.
What products contain Polyacrylic Acid?
It is most commonly found in Skincare products, especially eye masks (20.6% of its uses).

Manufacturers with experience using Polyacrylic Acid

Match with vetted US contract manufacturers that have hands-on experience formulating with this ingredient.