Ingredient
POLYQUATERNIUM-80
Substance information
Substances with the designation "quaternium-..." or "polyquaternium-..." are complex quaternary ammonium compounds, ie all four hydrogen atoms of the ammonium cation are replaced by (frequently polymeric) organic residues.
Function(s) of this ingredient in cosmetic products
CLEANSING
Cleans skin, hair or teeth
HAIR CONDITIONING
Leaves the hair easy to comb, supple, soft and shiny and / or imparts volume
SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING
Allows the formation of finely dispersed mixtures of oil and water (emulsions)
Occurrence in cosmetics
Nail care products, hair care products
Background information on use in cosmetics
The group of the polyquaternium polymers includes a broad range of chemically different polymers which all carry an ammonium compound as cationic functional group. They are preferentially used as film forming agents for hair, fingernails but also as a fixing agent and antistatic agent in haircare products. Emulsifiers are often used in cosmetics as excipients. They allow actually unmixable components like oil and water to be brought in a permanently stable emulsion. In this way both aqueous and oily care and active ingredients can be used in one and the same product in cosmetics. Emulsifiers are able to do that since their molecules consist of a lipophilic and a hydrophilic part. In this way they can reduce the interfacial tension which actually exists between two incompatible substances like fat and water. Emulsifiers are, more particularly, used for creams, lotions and cleansing agents. At present emulsifiers are, however, more than only excipients which keep an emulsion stable. Fatty acid esters on the basis of sugar, lecithin or glycerin monodistearate contribute, for instance, to improving the moisture balance of the skin and are, therefore, also considered as cosmetic active ingredients.
Belongs to the following substance groups
Regulating cosmetics
Cosmetics Ingredients are subject to regulation. Please note, different regulations may apply to cosmetic ingredients outside the EU.