POLOXAMER 338
Poloxamer 338 is a synthetic copolymer made from ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. These two chemical blocks give it an affinity for both water and oily components, which helps explain its use in preparations that need to bring together phases with different behavior.
POLOXAMER 338: what it is
Poloxamer 338 is a synthetic copolymer made from ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. These two chemical blocks give it an affinity for both water and oily components, which helps explain its use in preparations that need to bring together phases with different behavior.
The name may also appear on labels as POLOXAMER 338. It is not a botanical extract or an oil, but an industrially prepared polymeric material. In formulation research, poloxamer 338 can form gels whose consistency changes with temperature; that behavior depends on the composition and on the other substances present.
POLOXAMER 338: what it does in cosmetics
In rinse-off cosmetics, Poloxamer 338 can help water, oil, and soil spread and lift away more easily during washing. As an emulsifier, it helps keep water and oily components more evenly distributed, so a preparation is less likely to separate quickly in the bottle.
Pharmaceutical studies have investigated Poloxamer 338 in topical and subcutaneous gels and in particle suspensions, assessing the preparation's consistency and stability. Those findings concern formulation behavior; they do not show that the ingredient on its own treats acne, dark spots, wrinkles, or any skin disease.
Products containing this ingredient
See which products include it and the name used in each composition.
