Acrylates Copolymer is a general term for copolymers of two or more monomers consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or one of their simple esters. Other copolymers of acrylic acid and other monomers (Ammonium Acrylates Copolymer, Ammonium VA/Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Ethylene/Calcium Acrylate Copolymer, Ethylene/Magnesium Acrylate Copolymer, Ethylene/Sodium Acrylate Copolymer, Ethylene/Zinc Acrylate Copolymer, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid/VA Copolymer, Acrylates/VP Copolymer, Acrylates/VA Copolymer, Steareth-10 Allyl Ether/Acrylates Copolymer, Acrylates/Steareth-50 Acrylate Copolymer, Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Ammonium Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Acrylates/Hydroxyesters Acrylates Copolymer, Methacryloyl Ethyl Betaine/Acrylates Copolymer, Lauryl Acrylate/VA Copolymer, VA/Butyl Maleate/Isobornyl Acrylate Copolymer, Ethylene/Methacrylate Copolymer, Vinyl Caprolactam/VP/Dimethylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Sodium Acrylates/Acrolein Copolymer, VP/Dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate Copolymer, AMP-Acrylates Copolymer) are similar to Acrylates Copolymer in their function in cosmetics and personal care products. Polymers of acrylic acid and its salts (Polyacrylic Acid, Ammonium Polyacrylate, Potassium Aluminum Polyacrylate, Potassium Polyacrylate, Sodium Polyacrylate) also have similar properties and functions.
In cosmetics and personal care products, Acrylates Copolymer and the related copolymers and polymers are used in a wide variety of product types.
The safety of copolymers and polymers that contain the acrylic acid monomer has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that Acrylates Copolymer, Ammonium Acrylates Copolymer, Ammonium VA/Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Ethylene/Calcium Acrylate Copolymer, Ethylene/Magnesium Acrylate Copolymer, Ethylene/Sodium Acrylate Copolymer, Ethylene/Zinc Acrylate Copolymer, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid/VA Copolymer, Acrylates/PVP Copolymer, Acrylates/VA Copolymer, Steareth-10 Allyl Ether/Acrylates Copolymer, Acrylates/Steareth-50 Acrylate Copolymer, Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Ammonium Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Acrylates/Hydroxyesters Acrylates Copolymer, Methacryloyl Ethyl Betaine/Acrylates Copolymer, Lauryl Acrylate/VA Copolymer, VA/Butyl Maleate/Isobornyl Acrylate Copolymer, Ethylene/Methacrylate Copolymer, Vinyl Caprolactam/VP/Dimethylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Sodium Acrylates/Acrolein Copolymer, VP/Dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate Copolymer, AMP-Acrylates Copolymer, Polyacrylic Acid, Ammonium Polyacrylate, Potassium Aluminum Polyacrylate, Potassium Polyacrylate, and Sodium Polyacrylate were safe for use in cosmetics and personal care products when formulated to avoid skin irritation.CIR Safety Review: The CIR Expert Panel considered these ingredients to be similar in that they are large copolymers and polymers, uniformly produced in chemical reactions that leave very little residual monomer. Typical levels of residual acrylic acid were less than 20 ppm, although levels of 1000 ppm are found occasionally. Odor from residual monomers causes producers of these ingredients to keep levels as low as possible.
The CIR Expert Panel noted that these very large copolymers and polymers exhibited little toxicity. Acrylates Copolymer did produce skin irritation, but no evidence of sensitization was found.
Although there appears to be a large variation in the mix of monomers used in the synthesis of these copolymers and polymers, they are similar in that the polymers, except for dermal irritation, are not significantly toxic. Residual monomer levels are kept as low as possible. Although the monomers may produce adverse effects under some circumstances, the levels found in cosmetics and personal care products are not considered to present a safety risk.
Link to FDA Code of Federal Regulations for Acrylics and their copolymers
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRS...
Acrylates Copolymer and all related ingredients may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Directive of the European Union.
Link to the EU Cosmetics Directive: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/cosmetics/html/consolidated_d...