Is Polyquaternium-28 safe in cosmetics?
Safe as used per CIR 2012. Large, polar, polycationic polymer with negligible absorption and negative genotoxicity. The EU classifies Polyquaternium-28 as "permitted". Safety rating: EXCELLENT.
Excellent
Cosmetic Ingredient
Polyquaternium-28
INCI: POLYQUATERNIUM-28
Polyquaternium-28 (CAS 131954-48-8) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Antistatic, Film Forming, Hair Fixative, Conditioning. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted.
CAS Number
131954-48-8
Function
Antistatic, Film Forming, Hair Fixative, Conditioning
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT
Regulatory Status
🇪🇺 EU Status
permitted
🇺🇸 US Status
permitted
US Notes
CIR 2012: polymeric trimonium ingredients (including PQ-28) safe as used.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Polyquaternium-28 - available to Pro subscribers.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Additional Ingredient Properties
3 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
hair_care
{"hair_function": "styling", "hair_type_suitability": "fine/medium", "curl_pattern_suitability": "all", "porosity_suitability": "all", "protein_sensitivity": "neutral", "moisture_protein_balance": "yes", "cg_method_approved": "not-a-silicone", "silicone_type": "not-a-sulfate", "sulfate_type": "no", "drying_alcohol": "no", "fatty_alcohol": "no", "heat_protectant": "yes", "color_safe": "neutral", "k…
hair_conditioning
{"cas_number": "131954-48-8", "ingredient_class": "cationic_conditioner", "chemical_type": "polyquaternium", "charge_density_meq_g": "1.8", "substantivity_to_hair": "excellent", "deposition_from_shampoo": "yes", "deposition_from_conditioner": "yes", "conditioning_mechanism": "electrostatic", "hair_penetration": "cuticle", "molecular_weight_effect_on_penetration": "copolymer", "wet_combing_force_re…
polymer
{"cas_number": "131954-48-8", "ingredient_class": "film_former/conditioning", "polymer_type": "synthetic_copolymer", "chemical_backbone": "vinyl", "molecular_weight_Da_range": "200000-1800000", "ionic_character": "cationic", "charge_density_meq_g": "2.0-3.8", "pH_viscosity_sensitivity": "moderate", "salt_tolerance": "moderate", "electrolyte_effect_on_viscosity": "moderate", "temperature_viscosity_…
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Anti-static agent
Film former
Fixing agent (mordant)
Hair fixative
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Polyquaternium-28 - available to Pro subscribers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Polyquaternium-28 allowed in the EU?
Polyquaternium-28 EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Polyquaternium-28 do in cosmetics?
Polyquaternium-28 functions as: Antistatic, Film Forming, Hair Fixative, Conditioning. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 131954-48-8.
What is the Margin of Safety for Polyquaternium-28?
adequate The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.
Compliance Tools
Check Polyquaternium-28 compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
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Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
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