A cationic acrylamide-based copolymer, used as an antistatic and film-forming ingredient and regulated in Annex III.
What it is
Polyquaternium-43 is, according to CosIng, a polymeric quaternary ammonium salt formed from acrylamide, acrylamidopropyltrimonium chloride, 2-amidopropylacrylamide sulfonate and DMAPA monomers. CosIng lists it as an antistatic and film-forming ingredient. In the EU it is covered by an entry in Annex III (substances subject to restrictions) that applies to polyacrylamides.
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.
See the EU regulation section for the applicable limits, which differ between body leave-on products and other products.
Functions
- Antistatic
- Preventing and/or reducing static electricity by neutralising electrical charge on surfaces.
- Film forming
- Producing (upon application) a continuous film on the skin, hair or nails.
EU regulation
- Product type
- (a) Body leave-on products (b) Other products
- As of
- 3 November 2026 · (EC) 2009/1223