How we scored it
Where it comes from
A copolymer of acrylamide with acrylic or methacrylic acid (or their esters), all petroleum-derived monomers. No natural-origin commercial route exists for this polymer.
In plain English
A synthetic polymer of acrylamide and acrylic acid used to help hold hairstyles in place and moisturise skin.
CosIng definition: Acrylates/Acrylamide Copolymer is a copolymer of acrylamide and one or more monomers of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or one of their simple esters.
Natural alternatives with the same function
A film-forming, hair-fixing polysaccharide derived from chitin, the natural material in crustacean shells. Treating chitin with a mild…
Chitosan Lactate 100% natural originA film-forming, hair-fixing polymer made from chitosan, from crustacean shells or fungi, combined with lactic acid, a fermentation-derived…
Decapeptide-11 100% natural originA lab-assembled peptide made from natural amino acids, used to condition hair and help fix style. All of…
Dehydroxanthan Gum 100% natural originA thickener made by removing water from fermentation-derived xanthan gum, used to stabilise formulas and hair-styling products.
Oleuropein 100% natural originA powerful antioxidant compound naturally abundant in olive leaves. It's extracted directly from the leaves, not manufactured.
Rhizobian Gum 100% natural originA polysaccharide gum made by fermenting sugars with Rhizobium bacteria. Used to form films, fix hairstyles, and control…
References
- 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
- 2ACRYLATES/ACRYLAMIDE COPOLYMER. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 3ACRYLATES/ACRYLAMIDE COPOLYMER. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ACRYLATES/ACRYLAMIDE%20COPOLYMER