VP/VA Copolymer
What is it?
Polyvinylpyrrolidone/Vinyl Acetate (VP/VA) Copolymer is a white, free-flowing powder. In cosmetics and personal care products, VP/VA Copolymer is used primarily in the formulation of hair care products but can also be found in skin and nail products.
Safety Information
The safety of VP/VA Copolymer has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that Polyvinylpyrrolidone/Vinyl Acetate Copolymer was safe as a cosmetic ingredient under present conditions of use and concentrations. In 2003, as part of the scheduled re-evaluation of ingredients, the CIR Expert Panel considered available new data on VP/VA Copolymer and reaffirmed the above conclusion.
Why is it used in cosmetics and personal care products?
VP/VA Copolymer helps hair hold its style by inhibiting the hair’s ability to absorb moisture. VP/VA Copolymer dries to form a thin coating on the skin, hair or nails. It is also used to hold together the ingredients of a compressed tablet or cake and helps to distribute or to suspend an insoluble solid in a liquid.
Scientific facts:
VP/VA Copolymer is a polymer prepared by combining relatively small chemical compounds called monomers into a very large molecule that has very different properties. VP/VA Copolymer is a large molecule made from vinyl pyrrolidone (VP) and vinyl acetate (VA) monomers. The copolymer only contains residual amounts of the original monomers.
