What thickening agents are used in cosmetics?
October 2, 2023
Xanthan gum, AVC thickener, and high-molecular cellulose, among others. Thickeners can be classified into three types: natural (like xanthan gum), semi-natural (like cellulose ethers), and fully synthetic (like polyacrylamide). Cosmetic thickeners must meet the following criteria: high safety, colorless, tasteless, and odorless. They should have good stability, not degrade, decompose, or be affected by external factors like light, heat, or microorganisms, and should have good shelf life. They must also dissolve well and be easy to handle. Thickeners are commonly added during the manufacturing of cosmetics. The main ingredient of a thickener is typically water-soluble polymers. These polymers can swell in water to form gels, so they are used in many cosmetics as binders, thickeners, suspending agents, and co-emulsifiers. Cosmetic thickeners, specifically those using inorganic salts like sodium chloride, are not only applied in cosmetics but also in daily chemical products and surfactant solutions. They are highly effective in thickening. These thickeners are non-toxic, odorless chemical products that don’t affect the skin, with a wide pH application range.
