Carbomer
INCI · Carbomer · also Polyacrylic acid, Carbopol
Overview
A synthetic polymer that swells in water into a clear gel, which is why it appears high on the ingredient list of so many gel-textured serums and cleansers. It only thickens once neutralised with an alkali, so it usually travels alongside sodium hydroxide or triethanolamine on the label.
Who it's for
Anyone using gel or lightweight emulsion textures. It is structural, with no target skin type of its own.
Cautions
Purely a texture agent — it makes no claim on skin and should not be read as one. Carbomer gels are among the formats most prone to pilling when layered, particularly over silicone-heavy primers or sunscreens.
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What does Carbomer do in skincare?
A synthetic polymer that swells in water into a clear gel, which is why it appears high on the ingredient list of so many gel-textured serums and cleansers. It only thickens once neutralised with an alkali, so it usually travels alongside sodium hydroxide or triethanolamine on the label.
Is Carbomer considered safe for skin?
Purely a texture agent — it makes no claim on skin and should not be read as one. Carbomer gels are among the formats most prone to pilling when layered, particularly over silicone-heavy primers or sunscreens.