Pv
PVM/MA Copolymer
PVM/MA Copolymer
Forms a thin film and binds a product; in hair products it helps hold a style.
What it does
It’s a polymer made from two small building blocks, methyl vinyl ether and maleic acid. It’s there for texture, not to change your skin.
The evidence, graded
expert consensusUS safety reviewers (2011) judged PVM/MA copolymer and eight of its salts and esters safe as used. Products use them mainly to bind, form a film or hold hair in place. These very large molecules wouldn’t be easily absorbed into skin. In hair sprays, the particles are too large to be breathed deep into the lungs.Burnett 2011 · International Journal of Toxicology ↗
Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.
Browse all 809 ingredients — grouped by what they do, each with whatever evidence we can cite.
This page is public so a shared ingredient card always has its sources behind it — and so you can check them without an account.
Want more like this?
Every evidence-based flag cites its source, Drop tells you when your routine is complete, and it helps you simplify — instead of selling you more. The app launches on iOS and Android in October 2026. Rate my routine works today at /rate — no sign-in.