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Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)

Polyvinyl Alcohol · PVA

The film-former behind peel-off masks — dries into one peelable sheet, and also thickens formulas.

What it does

As it dries, it forms one continuous film that lifts off in one piece, which is how peel-off masks work. It also thickens and steadies products. It’s a lab-made ingredient that dissolves in water.

Browse all 1238 ingredients — grouped by what they do, each with whatever evidence we can cite.

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