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Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate

What Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate is & what it does

A synthetic acrylate polymer used to thicken and stabilize sunscreen formulas. It helps build a smooth, even texture, holds the oil and water phases together, and can give a creamy or gel-like feel. It does not affect the skin itself, working only on the texture of the product.

What is Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate and what does it do in sunscreen?

Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate is a synthetic acrylate polymer that works as a thickener and texture stabilizer. In sunscreen it builds body, keeps the formula smooth and even, and helps hold the oil and water phases together so the product does not separate. It shapes how a cream or gel feels rather than doing anything to the skin itself.

Is Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate safe?

Yes. It is a large, inert polymer that stays on the surface of the skin and is not absorbed, which is why it is widely used in lotions, creams, and sunscreens. At the small amounts used to thicken a formula it is non-irritating for most people. It is a texture ingredient with no known reactivity concern for typical use.

Does Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate clog pores?

Generally no. It is a film-forming polymer used in low amounts to thicken the formula, not a heavy oil or wax, so it is an unlikely pore-clogging culprit. If a product is breaking you out, the richer emollients and oils elsewhere in the formula are far more likely the cause.

Is Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate a UV filter?

No. Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate does nothing to block UV light. It is a thickener that controls the texture and stability of the product. The sun protection comes from the actual UV filters listed separately on the label, such as the mineral or organic filters in the formula.

Is Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate natural or synthetic?

It is synthetic. The ingredient is a lab-made acrylate polymer, so it does not occur in nature. That is normal for this class of texture ingredient, and being synthetic does not make it any less safe or effective at its job.

Sunscreens with Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate

We rate 245 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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