Is polyacrylamide safe in cosmetics?

Polyacrylamide is a polymer used in skincare to form a film on the skin or thicken formulations. Regulatory agencies have approved it for cosmetic use and published safety reviews do not report major concerns.

Does polyacrylamide break down in the body?

Polyacrylamide forms a barrier on the skin and does not penetrate into the bloodstream in significant amounts. Residual monomer can be present in very low levels and is regulated by cosmetic authorities.

thickener

Polyacrylamide

Watch if sensitive·Moderate evidence

A synthetic polymer used to thicken gels and creams. The CIR panel confirmed it is safe as used in cosmetics. Rarely, contact sensitization has been reported in people with existing dermatitis, though the monomer residual content in cosmetic-grade material is tightly controlled.

Questions

Is polyacrylamide safe in cosmetics?: Polyacrylamide is a polymer used in skincare to form a film on the skin or thicken formulations. Regulatory agencies have approved it for cosmetic use and published safety reviews do not report major concerns.
Does polyacrylamide break down in the body?: Polyacrylamide forms a barrier on the skin and does not penetrate into the bloodstream in significant amounts. Residual monomer can be present in very low levels and is regulated by cosmetic authorities.

Products with Polyacrylamide

References

Cosmetic information for general education, not medical advice. A verdict is a reading of the published evidence, never a guarantee for your skin: any ingredient can irritate someone, so patch test new products and see a professional if you react. Concern is graded on cited evidence, never on hazard-score lists. See how we score.