Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Also known as Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, GelMaker PH, ammonium AMPS/dimethylacrylamide/lauryl methacrylate/laureth-4 methacrylate crosspolymer
“No regulator has issued a verdict on this ingredient.”
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 is a vinyl-type crosslinked copolymer comprising ammonium AMPS (2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid), dimethylacrylamide, lauryl methacrylate, and laureth-4 methacrylate, crosslinked with trimethylolpropane triacrylate. It functions as an emulsion stabilizer and viscosity increasing agent (aqueous). According to RLD submitted to CIR in 2024, it is used in 1,515 formulations, predominantly leave-on, with the highest reported maximum concentration of 5% in mascaras. CIR released a Scientific Literature Review for public comment on November 13, 2025 (earliest Expert Panel review: March 12-13, 2026); no final safety conclusion has been issued. Safety data reviewed in the SLR includes: negative Ames test (OECD TG 471); non-irritating at >90% in rabbit dermal irritation (OECD TG 404); non-sensitizing and non-irritating at ~5% in a human repeated-insult patch test (HRIPT); predicted non-ocular irritant at 2% in vitro (HET-CAM); however, slightly irritating to the eye at unstated concentration in 3 rabbits (OECD TG 405, grade 2 chemosis and conjunctival redness resolving by days 6-7). No PubMed-indexed peer-reviewed literature specific to this ingredient was identified. CAS number is not publicly disclosed (exempt from publication under the NICNAS/AIIC scheme). CIR has not yet issued a QRT entry; the ingredient is absent from all three QRT versions (December 2017/July 2018, September 2022, and December 2025) because final assessment is pending.
Emulsion stabilizer and viscosity increasing agent — functions as a rheology modifier for aqueous and emulsion systems, enabling stable textures at low use concentrations
Non-mutagenic in Ames bacterial reverse mutation test (OECD TG 471) — negative result at concentrations tested
Non-irritating to skin at >90% in rabbit dermal irritation study and non-sensitizing at ~5% in human HRIPT
High-molecular-weight crosslinked polymer (>10,000 Da) — large molecule size consistent with low skin penetration potential
Reported to be used in 1,515 cosmetic formulations as of 2024 RLD, indicating broad industry adoption with no post-market safety signals surfaced in the CIR SLR
- · CAS number not publicly disclosed — assessed under Australian NICNAS scheme (PLC977) but CAS data claimed exempt from publication
Slight ocular irritation observed in rabbit in vivo study (3 rabbits; chemosis grade 2 and conjunctival redness grade 1, resolving by days 6-7) — in vitro HET-CAM was non-irritating at 2% but in vivo data suggest some ocular irritation potential at product-relevant concentrations
Used in products applied near the eye (mascaras up to 5%) and in sprays (up to 0.89% in cologne/toilet waters) — inhalation exposure concern noted but CIR Panel considers most droplets non-respirable in practice
CIR final safety conclusion pending as of March 2026 — no Expert Panel determination has been issued; the SLR is pre-decisional and information sought includes chemical properties data, manufacturing/impurities data, dermal toxicity data, and additional genotoxicity data