The ingredient, explained

Poloxamer 407

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 -98;67-

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 in described cosmetic uses; impurity controls are part of the assessment.

What this does not tell us

Dated group read-across; cosmetic levels cannot be extended to high-dose intravenous exposure. Local anal-fissure paper uses polymer as delivery vehicle, not efficacy agent.

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.