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Crosspolymer

What Crosspolymer is & what it does

Crosspolymer is a general term for a polymer whose chains are chemically linked, or cross-linked, into a three-dimensional network rather than left as separate strands. In skincare and sunscreen formulas crosspolymers most often act as thickeners, texture enhancers, and stabilizers, giving products body, a smooth feel, and a stable emulsion. A notable property is their ability to swell and hold water or oil, which helps control how a product spreads and feels on the skin.

What does Crosspolymer do in skincare?

Crosspolymer refers to a cross-linked polymer used mainly as a thickener, texture enhancer, and stabilizer. In skincare and sunscreen formulas it gives products body and a smooth feel, helps keep emulsions stable, and can control how a product spreads. The specific behavior depends on which crosspolymer is used.

Is Crosspolymer safe?

Crosspolymers are large, cross-linked molecules that generally remain on the skin's surface and are widely used as thickeners and stabilizers in cosmetics. As a class they are typically well tolerated. Because crosspolymer is a broad term, the exact ingredient name in a product gives the most specific information.

Is Crosspolymer natural or synthetic?

Most crosspolymers are synthetic or made by chemically modifying and cross-linking a base polymer. Some are based on naturally derived starting materials, but the cross-linking step itself is a manufacturing process, so they are generally classed as synthetic or semi-synthetic.

Sunscreens with Crosspolymer

We rate 25 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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