What is "ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER" and what does it do?

Role: EMULSIFIER/TEXTURE

Family:

Comedogenic index: 0

This molecule is a polymer (a large molecule made up of repeated subunits or monomers) and is related to the super-common water-loving thickener Carbomer. Both are large molecules containing acrylic acid units, but Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer also contains other hydrophobic, i.e. non-water-loving, monomers.
This means that our molecule is both hydrophilic (water-loving) and lipophilic (oil-loving), so it works not only as a thickener but also as an emulsion stabilizer.
It is very common in gel-type formulas that also contain an oil phase, as well as in cleansers, as it also works with most cleansing agents.

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