What it is
This is a synthetic copolymer built from vinyl acetate, butyl maleate, and isobornyl acrylate monomers. In sunscreen and makeup formulas it dries to a continuous, cohesive film that distributes the product evenly across the skin and helps keep pigments and UV filters in place after application. It is typically used at low levels and contributes to a smooth, uniform finish.
Safety & warnings
As a high-molecular-weight film former it is generally considered non-irritating and is not absorbed through intact skin. It has no recognized allergen or comedogenicity concerns at typical use levels.
Origin & sourcing
Synthetic, produced by polymerizing petrochemically derived vinyl acetate, butyl maleate, and isobornyl acrylate monomers.
Questions everyone asks
What does this copolymer do in a sunscreen?
It forms a thin, flexible film on the skin that spreads the product evenly and helps hold the formula and its UV filters in a uniform layer.
Is it a UV filter?
No. It does not absorb UV itself; it is a film former that supports how the sunscreen lays down on the skin.