Why Carbomers Are in Thousands of Skincare Products

If you’ve ever browsed the ingredient list on the back of a makeup, skincare, or haircare product, you may have noticed this word before: carbomer. Unfamiliar to most, you might've completely glossed over this ingredient without a second thought, but carbomers are actually in tons of skincare products. If you’re curious about what carbomers are, or concerned about what what they do, you can rest easy—according to board-certified plastic surgeon Konstantin Vasyukevich, there’s nothing to worry about when you see this ingredient listed among others. “Carbomer has been assessed as safe to use in cosmetic products,” he assures. “It has been shown that carbomers can be used by everyone and have no adverse effect.” Known to be safe for all skin types, carbomers are fluffy white powders that allow other ingredients in your products to work together to get the job done. 

What Are Carbomers? 

Not often talked about, but featured in a number of cosmetic products, most people don’t know what carbomers are, even though they probably benefit from the use of them every day. Unlike active ingredients that offer results-driven value to a product, carbomers are inactive ingredients that help those active ingredients work so well. “A carbomer describes a series of polymers made from acrylic acid,” explains Vasyukevich. “On their own, carbomers are white, fluffy powders but are frequently used as gels in a wide variety of cosmetics and personal care products made for the skin, hair, nails, and makeup products, as well as dentifrices.” Carbomers are also commonly listed as carbomer 934, carbomer 934 P, carbomer 941, carbopol 910, and carboxyvinyl polymer. 

Benefits of Carbomers for Skin

While carbomers alone won’t really do much to improve the condition of your skin or treat an existing issue or concern, they can offer benefits when featured in certain products. Just think of them as the supporting actor in a film, or a backup singer on an album—they may not be the star of the show, but the whole thing couldn’t really come together without their help.

• Thickens or evens-out the consistency of products: “Carbomers are thickening agents that help control the consistency or stickiness, and flow of many cosmetic products.
• Prevents separation in products: "Additionally, they help distribute and suspend insoluble solids into liquid, and prevent the oil and liquid parts of a solution from separating,” says Vasyukevich. This helpful trait is what makes thinner moisturizers like emulsions work. 
• Improves the texture of products: Carbomers can expand to 1000 times their original volume in water. “Carbomers can easily absorb and retain water, and can expand immensely when they’re suspended in water,” Vasyukevich states. “By adding carbomers to things like shampoos, conditioners, creams, and lotions, the formulations will appear more rich, smooth, and creamy.” 

Who Should Use Carbomers

As mentioned, carbomers don't directly impact skin's condition, so no particular person benefits from the use of carbomers. If you do, however, see it in your products, know that carbomers are considered safe for all skin types.

Side Effects of Carbomers

According to the Environmental Working Group, carbomers are considered to be a very safe ingredient. It is not considered to be an ingredient associated with causing cancers and has also not been linked to developmental or reproductive toxicity.

Additionally, carbomers have not been shown to compromise the immune system or cause allergic reactions. “In reviewing acute oral and dermal studies, they determined that carbomers have a low potential for phototoxicity, photo-contact allergenicity, skin irritation and sensitization at concentrations up to 100%,” Vasyukevich adds.

So, if you’re using a product that contains carbomers and you are having an adverse or allergic reaction, it is very safe to assume that a different ingredient is to blame. 

How to Use It

Because carbomers are ingredients that allow the countless products they’re found in to do their best work, there isn’t really one set of instructions for their use as there might be for, say, SPF or glycolic acid. “Carbomers are versatile and can be used anytime,” Vasyukevich says. “Carbomers are one of the most versatile polymers in industry, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals and even in oral care products... It seems to be a neutral type of ingredient that works well with everything.” If you’re using a product that relies on carbomers, be sure to follow the use instructions of that specific product carefully, and reduce or discontinue use if you notice negative side effects, like breakouts or irritation.  

One such product is the Squalane + Peptide Eye Gel by Biossance, which promises the hydration and anti-aging benefits of squalane and peptides in a gel formula, thanks to carbomer. 

If you prefer a gel-like consistency to help hydrate your skin, look to the healing powers of aloe vera in the Varuza Soothing Gel Aloe Vera 95. Aloe vera offers many potential skin healing benefits, like reducing inflammatory acne and hydrating skin, and can also help hair concerns like dandruff when it’s applied to the scalp.

The lightweight texture and fluid consistency of Paula’s Choice RESIST Brightening Essence is another carbomer-containing product, which contains antioxidants meant to leave skin looking bright, glowing, and even. 

Products designed to treat your skin’s concerns are only one avenue of skincare carbomers assist with — they can also be found in preventative items which should be part of your daily regimen anyway, like SPF. Loved by dermatologists, the CeraVe line offers sunscreen safe enough for a baby’s skin, and it's fragrance free, so it won’t irritate yours.

For those who prefer a cream-based formula to keep their complexions moisturized, the widely celebrated Cetaphil SPF 15 Daily Facial Moisturizer is lightweight and perfect for daytime as it contains a built-in broad spectrum SPF.