A fermentation-derived polysaccharide used to thicken and stabilize cosmetic products.
Sources: 1No alternative names recorded.
Not assessed
No pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific assessment has been completed for this record. A cosmetic safety review is not a pregnancy rating.
Not assessed
Xanthan Gum
What it does
Helps control flow, suspension and texture. A thicker gel does not automatically deliver stronger clinical benefits.
Sources: 1Good for
- Gel texture
- Suspension and formula stability
How to use it
Use within a finished product. Thickening agents have no separate application step in a routine.
Sources: 1Who should be careful
Use an appropriate finished product. Powder handling has different exposure concerns from applying a hydrated gel, and an individual may react to other formula components.
Sources: 1Pairs well with
No supported pairings have been documented for this record.
Usage, safety and formulation details
Mechanism of action
Hydrated polymer chains change the rheology of the water phase and help keep dispersed materials suspended.
Sources: 1Potential adverse effects
A gel can irritate because of pH, actives or other ingredients; texture alone does not establish tolerance.
Sources: 1Formulation considerations
Hydration method, grade, electrolytes, pH and the surrounding formula affect performance. Microbial quality and preservation still need assessment.
Sources: 1Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Not assessed
No pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific assessment has been completed for this record. A cosmetic safety review is not a pregnancy rating.
Safety tags
- Fragrance allergen
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- Essential oil
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- Drying alcohol
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- May irritate sensitive skin
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
What remains uncertain
- Exact concentration, final pH and the full composition of any unprovided finished product
- Exact material, composition and supplier-grade specifications
Clinical evidence and research
Clinical evidence
Evidence for its main benefitNot assessed
The cited references support identity, formulation role or safety context. No standalone clinical efficacy rating has been completed for the main benefit in this draft.
Sources: 1Regulation and ingredient label names
Regulatory information
No jurisdiction-specific assessment is recorded. An inventory listing is not blanket approval.
Names on ingredient lists
xanthan gum
Chemical identity and molecular structure
Chemical information
Chemical structure
No single structure to show yet
This ingredient represents a mixture, extract, polymer or ingredient family. A single molecular diagram may not describe its composition.
| Detail | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| material scope | Variable material or ingredient family: no single molecular formula, molecular weight or bond diagram describes every grade. | CIR: Microbial polysaccharide gums safety assessment materials |
| material scope | A high-molecular-weight polysaccharide with variable chain length. A repeating unit is not the molecular weight or complete bond structure of a commercial xanthan grade. | CIR: Microbial polysaccharide gums safety assessment materials |
Content updated 9 November 2026.
Sources (1)
Scientific sources
- CIR: Microbial polysaccharide gums safety assessment materialssafety assessment materials
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