Polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH/PVA) has a long history in personal care formulation: as a film former, adhesion promoter, viscosity builder and skin-feel modifier. The Selvol™ Ultalux line from SEKISUI Specialty Chemicals extends that foundation into a purpose-built cosmetic-grade range spanning three PVOH homopolymer grades and two functional copolymers. 

We designed each for the specific demands of today’s innovative skin care, hair care and color cosmetics formulations.

Grade selection starts with understanding what differentiates them at the formulation level. Each grade has a distinct viscosity profile, functional mechanism and application fit. The right choice depends on what the formulation needs to do. 

SEKISUI and third parties have tested all five grades for quality, purity and skin safety.

Read the Selvol Ultalux PVOH product brochure.

Selvol Ultalux FP

Ultalux FP is the entry-level viscosity grade in the line, with a 15% solution viscosity of 270–310 cP. That low viscosity is the defining formulation characteristic:

  • Disperses easily in solution
  • Contributes minimal thickening to the finished formula
  • Produces a lightweight, non-tacky film where skin feel stays clean and unobtrusive

The result is a grade whose contribution to finished texture stays largely invisible. This is useful where the polymer needs to work in the background rather than define the product’s body. Its primary mechanisms are film formation, adhesion promotion, lubrication, moisturization and wetting.

Ultalux FP is also the sole Ultalux grade suited to contact lens storage and cleaning solutions, where biocompatibility, lubrication and low-viscosity solution behavior are necessary together.

Primary personal care formulations for Ultalux FP

Selvol Ultalux FP’s lightweight, non-tacky film makes it a natural fit for these personal care products:

  • BB creams and multifunctional skin care (sunscreen/moisturizer/foundation)
  • Eye shadow
  • Facial masks and peels
  • Contact lens storage and cleaning solutions
  • Antiaging and instant-lift formulations

Read the Selvol Ultalux FP product brochure.

Selvol Ultalux FA

Ultalux FA is the broadest-application grade in the Ultalux line, with a 15% solution viscosity of 5,100–5,700 cP. It offers the widest functional profile:

  • Adhesion promotion
  • Film formation
  • Fixative action
  • Foaming
  • Fragrance delivery
  • Skin protection
  • Skin tightening
  • Viscosity enhancement
  • Active ingredient delivery

FA’s active ingredient delivery function is particularly notable. Ultalux FA has been evaluated in antiaging facial mask formulations for its ability to enhance penetration of actives into skin layers. Testing data shows improved active intensity ratios compared to control formulations. This makes Ultalux FA a functional contributor to formulation efficacy, not just a film-forming binder.

That same mid-range viscosity contributes meaningfully to body and texture across a range of product formats. Its combination of viscosity build and fixative action keeps pigments and actives in place in color cosmetics and treatment systems. 

That breadth is why FA appears across more product categories than any other Ultalux grade.

Primary personal care formulations for Ultalux FA

Selvol Ultalux FA’s versatile functional range covers these personal care formulations and more:

  • Antiaging creams and treatment masks
  • Facial masks and peels
  • Pore strips
  • Eye shadows, eyeliners, eyelash adhesives, brow makeup
  • Mascara (standard formulations)
  • Hairstyling gels
  • Ethnic hair care and weave adhesive systems
  • Body washes
  • Deodorants and antiperspirants
  • Scar treatment products

Read the Selvol Ultalux FA product brochure.

 

Selvol Ultalux FF

Ultalux FF is the high molecular weight grade in the line, with a 15% solution viscosity of 22,000–26,000 cP. That molecular weight delivers film-forming and adhesive performance with substantial cohesive strength. 

It also has the highest elongation at break of the PVOH homopolymer grades (greater than 200%). This makes it the grade of choice where the dry film needs to flex and stretch without fracturing.

In color cosmetics, FF’s cohesive film strength, high elongation and viscosity control make it well-suited to high-wear applications. Here, films must deliver under real-use conditions:

  • Hold pigment in place
  • Flex without cracking
  • Resist smudging or flaking

Its foaming-promoter function also makes it useful in body wash and shampoo/conditioner formulations, where it contributes to foam structure and skin feel. FF and Ultalux SC are the only two grades in the line suited to rinse-off hair cleansing systems. 

Formulator’s note. Elongation at break is a functional requirement in peel-off masks, not simply a physical property. A film that can’t stretch enough tears mid-removal: a poor user experience regardless of adhesion quality. FF’s >200% elongation at break supports clean, intact peel-off.

Primary personal care formulations for Ultalux FF

Selvol Ultalux FF brings cohesive film strength and high elongation to these personal care products:

  • Mascara (high-wear, long-duration formulations)
  • Eyelash adhesives
  • Eyeliners
  • Eye shadows
  • Brow makeup
  • Hairstyling gels
  • Ethnic hair care and weave systems
  • Body washes
  • Shampoos and conditioners
  • Facial masks and peels
  • Pore strips
  • Scar treatments
  • Antiaging products

Read the Selvol Ultalux FF product brochure.

Selvol Ultalux AD

Ultalux AD is the first of two copolymer grades in the Ultalux line. As a vinyl amine/vinyl alcohol copolymer (INCI: vinyl amine/vinyl alcohol copolymer), it incorporates amine functional groups into the PVOH backbone. This sets it apart from the three homopolymer grades.

Amine-functional copolymers demonstrate stronger adhesion to skin and hair surfaces than comparable anionic or nonionic polymers. AD’s properties data reflects this: adhesion to glass of 220–280 g, compared to 80–120 g for FP and FA.

That enhanced surface adhesion is most valuable in products where staying in place under everyday conditions is the primary requirement:

  • Pore strips and exfoliating peels that must adhere tightly to skin to lift debris effectively
  • Brow gels and eyelash adhesives that need to maintain hold through wear
  • Antiaging formulations where a tightening film is a deliverable consumer benefit

AD’s 4% aqueous solution runs at pH 11.0–12.0, making it the only alkaline-working grade in the line. You should account for this in compatibility planning with pH-sensitive ingredients. 

Ultalux AD is also a reaction intermediate, extending its use into cosmetic ingredient manufacturing processes beyond finished personal care products.

Formulator’s note. Skin and hair surfaces carry a net negative charge at physiological pH. Amine-functional copolymers like Ultalux AD adhere more strongly through electrostatic attraction. This explains its significantly higher adhesion values relative to the homopolymer grades.

Primary personal care formulations for Ultalux AD

Selvol Ultalux AD’s amine-functional chemistry translates directly into formulation performance in these personal care products:

  • Exfoliating and peel-off facial masks
  • Pore strips
  • Antiaging products
  • Brow makeup
  • Eyelash adhesives
  • Eye shadows
  • Skin-tightening formulations

SEKISUI patent US9271920B2, active through 2034, covers the vinyl amine/vinyl alcohol copolymer chemistry in Ultalux AD. It’s a proprietary ingredient exclusive to SEKISUI.

Read the Selvol Ultalux AD product brochure.

Selvol Ultalux SC

Ultalux SC is the second copolymer grade, a VP/vinyl alcohol copolymer (INCI: VP/vinyl alcohol copolymer) incorporating vinylpyrrolidone into the PVOH backbone. That modification gives SC its defining characteristic in the line: enhanced moisture retention and hydration delivery.

Testing in facial mask formulations shows greater than 15% improvement in skin hydration compared to conventional PVOH. Ultalux SC demonstrates a moisturization ratio of 2.9 versus 2.5 for a typical PVOH face mask. 

If you’re formulating in treatment skin care, hair care or moisture-focused color cosmetics where hydration is the primary performance driver, SC delivers.

Ultalux SC also processes more efficiently than conventional PVOH, demonstrating a 50% reduction in cook time.

Formulator’s note. VP copolymers typically dissolve more readily than PVOH homopolymers due to lower crystallinity. That’s the processing mechanism behind SC’s cook time reduction, relevant to your manufacturing throughput and energy cost at scale.

Primary personal care formulations for Ultalux SC

Selvol Ultalux SC’s moisture-retention properties benefit these personal care products:

  • Moisturizing and hydrating facial masks
  • Pore strips
  • Antiaging creams and lotions
  • Eye shadows, eyeliners, mascaras
  • Hairstyling gels
  • Ethnic hair care and weave formulations
  • Shampoos and conditioners

Read the Selvol Ultalux SC product brochure.

Contact SEKISUI To Select the Right Ultalux Grade

The five Selvol Ultalux PVOH grades span a wide formulation spectrum. 

In practice, you can combine them to balance complementary qualities. For example, FA and AD work together to pair film strength with enhanced skin adhesion in an exfoliating mask.

SEKISUI and third-party testing confirm Ultalux’s quality, purity and skin safety, including the EpiDerm in vitro irritation test.

Request Selvol Ultalux PVOH samples in any grade, or contact SEKISUI for more information.

Reach our Technical Service Team for dedicated customer service and support. They’ll help you find the ideal Ultalux grade for your personal care formulation.

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