Various substances are available to ensure that a cream, a shower gel, or a shampoo has the right flow properties (viscosity). There are a number of natural gelling agents, such as alginic acid, tragacanth, starch, many modified celluloses, and mineral-based bentonite. These bulking agents are safe for the skin. Their application is limited, however, since they form a film on the skin that may easily be rubbed off after the oil-water emulsion has been absorbed. Artificial acrylates do not exhibit these bothersome natural characteristics. They have strong emulsifying properties and can thus be used to produce stable creams without application of heat. Their disadvantage: Like silicones, acrylates are slowly degradable and clog the pores.

A thickener * Also known as acrylic polymer sodium salt or ASAP functions: Sodium polyacrylate is a synthetic polymer used in cosmetics and personal care products partly because of its ability to absorb 200 to 300 times its mass of water. It is a white powder when dry, but becomes a gel-like substance when wet, and is used mainly as a thickener. Sodium polyacrylate can also be used in a variety of formulas due to its other properties, including as an absorbent, emulsion stabilizers, film formers, plasticizers and viscosity enhancers. Sodium polyacrylate is also used as a sequestering agent in detergents and cleaners because of its ability to bind water-hardening elements such as calcium and magnesium, so that the surfactants work more effectively ( plastics.inwiki.org and Cosmetics Database ). Sodium polyacrylate has FDA approval and is classified as GRAS and is generally recognized as safe. It also has CIR approval for use in cosmetics and personal care products. Safety measures / side effects: According to the cosmetics database, sodium polyacrylate is considered a moderate hazard, mainly due to impurities. According to the safety data sheets for sodium polyacrylates, there may be irritation to the eyes, but is not considered irritating or sensitizing.

Sodium polyacrylate, also known as a water collector, is a sodium salt of polyacrylic acid with the chemical formula [-CH 2-CH (COONa) -] n and is widely used in consumer products. It has the ability to absorb up to 200 to 300 times the mass of water. Sodium polyacrylate is an anionic polyelectrolyte with negatively charged carbon groups in the main chain.

Multiple, additive sources of exposure: Information available in food or as additive with limited or no toxicity. Reference FDA. Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food. FDA Food Additive status. Organ System Toxicity (non-reproductive) Classified as toxic or harmful to health: Environment Canada Domestic Substance List. Classified as a medium of human health Priority: Environment Canada Domestic Substance List. Safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use restrictions - safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications: Cosmetic Ingredient Review AssessmentsSafe considered, based on the assumption of low absorption: Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments. Ecotoxicology: Not suspected of being an environmental toxin. Reference: Environment Canada Domestic Substance List. Persistence and Bioaccumulation: Not suspected to be bioaccumulative. Reference: Environment Canada Domestic Substance List. Contamination concerns: Contamination by acrylic acid.