How we scored it
Where it comes from
Produced by free-radical copolymerisation of petrochemical acrylate esters and vinyl acetate. No commercially significant natural-feedstock route exists.
In plain English
A synthetic polymer made from petrochemical building blocks. Used in hair products and lotions to form a flexible film that holds style and controls thickness.
Natural alternatives with the same function
A gelling and thickening gum extracted from red seaweed. It is used to give products body and texture,…
Algin 100% natural originSodium alginate, a thickening and binding gum extracted from brown seaweed. It's harvested from algae and processed to…
Alginic Acid 100% natural originA gelling and thickening gum extracted from brown seaweed, the acid form of alginate. It's harvested and purified…
Aluminum Zinc Oxide 100% natural originA white mineral powder made from zinc and aluminium oxides. It adds opacity, bulk and absorbency to powders…
Amylopectin 100% natural originA binding and thickening ingredient that is the highly branched component of plant starch, typically sourced from corn,…
Astragalus Gummifer Gum 100% natural originA natural plant gum, known as tragacanth, harvested from a Middle Eastern shrub. Used as a thickener and…
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/VA COPOLYMER. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 3ACRYLATES/VA COPOLYMER. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ACRYLATES/VA%20COPOLYMER