Sodium Polyacrylate

This white powder is primarily used as a viscosity controlling agent. It is added to the water phase, which then thickens to form a clear gel. Sodium polyacrylate can also serve as an emollient, absorbent, and emulsion stabilizer.
Functions
Origin
Sodium Polyacrylate

Overview

Sodium polyacrylate is a sodium salt of polyacrylic acid. This white powder is soluble in water and is primarily used as a viscosity controlling agent.

It is added to the water phase, which then thickens to form a clear gel. As a result, sodium polyacrylate also functions as a binding agent that holds ingredients together and, when used in emulsions, it functions as an emulsion stabilizer.

Due to its polymeric nature, this ingredient can also form films, which prevents the other ingredients from being rinses away easily with water or sweat. Finally, sodium polyacrylate can also serve as an emollient and an absorbent.