What is Carbomer?
Carbomer is a texture-building thickener. A synthetic gelling polymer rated 0/5, used to thicken serums and gels.
You may see it on labels as Carbomer, Sodium Carbomer, Acrylates Copolymer, so it can hide under more than one name in an ingredient list.
Where Carbomer shows up
You'll most often find Carbomer in gels, serums, and lotions, where it controls consistency. Separately from clogging, its irritancy is rated 1/5 — low, so it's unlikely to sting or sensitise on its own.
Is Carbomer bad for acne-prone skin?
Because it barely registers on the comedogenic scale, Carbomer is generally a safe pick for breakout-prone skin and is often recommended as a gentler alternative to heavier ingredients.