What Is Ammonium polyacrylate?

Learn about the film-forming, light stabilizer, and surfactant cleansing characteristics of Ammonium polyacrylate and its usage in personal care products.

What Is Ammonium polyacrylate? Brandon Jones / IngredientReviewer

Last Updated: October 2, 2024

Written by Brandon Jones

What Is Ammonium polyacrylate?

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What is the purpose of Ammonium polyacrylate in personal care products? It is used for its film-forming, light stabilizer, and surfactant cleansing characteristics. Ammonium polyacrylate creates a thin layer on the skin/nails/hair, shields ingredients from damage caused by light exposure, and helps clean body surfaces.

Names and identifiers that we found for this substance include: Ammonium Polyacrylate and "2-Propenoic acid, homopolymer, ammonium salt".

What Are Film-Forming Ingredients?

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Ammonium polyacrylate has film-forming characteristics.

Film-forming ingredients are used in many cosmetic products, including skincare, haircare, and makeup. These ingredients can have different chemical compositions and functions, but they all share the goal of creating a film on the surface they are applied on.

In skincare products, film-forming ingredients are often used to create a barrier on the skin's surface that helps to lock in moisture. This can benefit people with dry or sensitive skin, as it can help to prevent the skin from becoming dehydrated and irritated. Some film-forming ingredients can also provide a temporary tightening or lifting effect, which can help reduce the visibility of lines and wrinkles on your skin.

In haircare products, film-forming ingredients can help smooth and protect the hair cuticle, making hair look shinier and feel smoother. Film-forming ingredients can also help to protect hair from environmental stressors like heat styling and pollution.

In makeup products, film-forming ingredients can help create a smooth, even base for additional products like foundation or powder. They can also help to improve the wear time of makeup products by creating a barrier that helps to keep them in place.

What Are Light Stabilizer Ingredients?

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Ammonium polyacrylate has light stabilizer characteristics.

Light stabilizer ingredients are commonly added to cosmetic products to protect them from light's damaging effects. These ingredients work by preventing light from breaking down the active ingredients in the cosmetic product, which can lead to the ingredients becoming less effective or even causing harm to the skin.

When a cosmetic product is exposed to light, the energy from light can cause chemical reactions to occur within the product. These reactions can break down the active ingredients, causing them to become less effective. In addition, these reactions can create new compounds that may harm the skin. Light stabilizer ingredients prevent these reactions from occurring by absorbing the energy from the light and dissipating it as heat. This process protects the active ingredients in the product and prevents the formation of harmful compounds.

Light stabilizer ingredients are essential in skincare products that contain active ingredients such as retinoids, vitamin C, and alpha hydroxy acids. These ingredients are known to be particularly sensitive to light, and their effectiveness can be significantly reduced if they are not protected.

In addition to protecting the active ingredients in the product, light stabilizer ingredients can also help maintain the product's appearance and texture. Light exposure can cause cosmetic products to change color, become cloudy, or separate. Light stabilizer ingredients prevent these changes from occurring, ensuring that the product remains stable and effective.

What Are Surfactant Cleansing Ingredients?

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Ammonium polyacrylate has surfactant cleansing characteristics.

Surfactant cleansing ingredients are commonly found in various cosmetics, particularly those designed for cleansing, such as shampoo, body wash, and facial cleansers. These ingredients serve several purposes, including wetting body surfaces, emulsifying or dissolving oils, and suspending dirt and grime, making them easier to remove. Surfactants generally contribute to the foaming and lathering properties of cleansing products, making them more effective in removing impurities from the skin or hair.

Safety

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Remember, always read and follow the instructions provided on product labels carefully. If you have any questions or concerns about using a product containing various ingredients, consult with your doctor or healthcare provider before use.