INCI name

POLYCITRONELLOL

Polycitronellol

Skin conditioning – emollient Film forming Hair conditioning Hair fixing Surfactant – hydrotrope Skin conditioning – humectantreviewed

A polymer made from citronellol, used as an emollient and film former.

What it is

Polycitronellol is a polymer made by polymerising citronellol, a terpene alcohol. CosIng lists it as an emollient, film-forming, hair-conditioning, hair-fixing, hydrotrope surfactant and humectant ingredient.

Where it is used

Appears on the ingredient lists of a small number of products.

Limits of interpretation

The INCI list shows which ingredients are present, not how much of each. Above 1%, ingredients are listed in descending order of weight; below 1% the order is free.

The INCI name does not show the degree of polymerisation.

Functions

Skin conditioning – emollient: Acting as lubricants on the skin surface providing the skin with a soft and smooth appearance.
Film forming: Producing (upon application) a continuous film on the skin, hair or nails.
Hair conditioning: Enhancing the appearance and feel of hair. Leaving the hair easy to comb, supple, soft and shiny and/or imparting volume, lightness, gloss, texture, etc.
Hair fixing: Permitting physical control of hair style.
Surfactant – hydrotrope: Enhancing the water solubility of another surfactant.
Skin conditioning – humectant: Increasing the water content of the top layers of the skin. Humectants are primarily hygroscopic agents drawing moisture from the surrounding air.

EU regulation

This ingredient is not listed in the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 in the CosIng data.

Products with this ingredient (5)

Check a full ingredient list