The ingredient, explained

Poloxamer 188

A published expert safety assessment covers this exact ingredient.

EmulsifyingSurfactant

Explore connections

Ingredient guide

What it is and what it does

Oxirane, methyl-, polymer with oxirane -75;30-

About this ingredient: EU CosIng ingredient registry (via Open Beauty Facts taxonomy) ↗

Emulsifying: Helps liquids that do not normally mix form a mixture.
Surfactant: Changes surface tension to help a product distribute or interact with other materials.

Function definitions: European Commission ingredient function definitions (SCCNFP/0299/00, pages 16 to 20) ↗

Registry functions describe possible formulation roles, not results for a finished product. A dictionary entry is not an approval or a safety assessment.

A closer look

What the research shows

Safety assessment

Panel judged assessed poloxamers safe under described cosmetic use, with purification to control unwanted impurities.

What this does not tell us

Dated group read-across; ethylene/propylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane controls are material. Intravenous drug uses and carrier-only curcumin paper cannot establish cosmetic efficacy.

Sources for this summary. PubMed 18830866 ↗

Research review checked Oct 1, 2026

Bounded review of local candidates, exact-name indexed primary journal/PubMed safety and topical searches; not a systematic review.

Ingredient research is not proof that a product containing this ingredient works.