Xanthan gum
Description
Xanthan Gum – Benchmark natural thickener in cosmetics
Xanthan Gum is one of the most widely used natural ingredients for thickening and stabilizing aqueous cosmetic formulations due to its high efficiency even at low concentrations. A natural biopolymer used as a gelling, stabilizing, thickening, and suspending agent, suitable for a wide range of personal care products.
Ellemental Xanthan Gum is a special grade featuring rapid dispersion and a clear solution (FEDCS - Fast dispersing, Easily Dispersible, Clear Solution). It forms solutions with pseudoplastic behavior, viscous at rest, but thinning easily upon application, which gives finished products a pleasant texture that spreads effortlessly on the skin.
It is a high-molecular-weight natural polysaccharide obtained through the fermentation of a sugar-based substrate under the action of the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris.
Ingredients (INCI): Xanthan Gum
Technical Characteristics
- Appearance: Off-white/yellowish granular powder; discreet odor
- Solubility: Soluble in both cold and hot water; forms clear solutions / gels
- Quality: Personal care grade xanthan gum, strict purity specifications
- Recommended Dosage: 0.1 - 2%, depending on desired viscosity and texture
Properties and Benefits
- Extremely efficient thickener, active even at very low concentrations
- Emulsion stabilizer, preventing long-term phase separation
- Pseudoplastic behavior: viscous texture in the container, but easy to spread upon application
- Stability across a wide pH and temperature range
- Compatible with most other thickeners and stabilizers used in cosmetics
- Natural ingredient, obtained through fermentation, biodegradable
Applications
- Transparent gels and serums where solution clarity is essential
- Creams and lotions, as a stabilizer for the aqueous phase and emulsion
- Shampoos, shower gels, liquid soaps
- Products with a dense gel texture, such as hair treatments or masks
Formulation Guide
- Disperse under continuous stirring, preferably by gradually sprinkling into a vortex created in the aqueous phase, to avoid lump formation
- Soluble in both cold and hot water; for optimal results, complete hydration before adding other ingredients is recommended
- Pre-mixing with glycerin or another humectant prior to adding to water can aid in a more uniform dispersion
- Low concentrations (0.1 - 0.5%): suitable for a subtle to medium stabilizing and gelling effect
- Medium-high concentrations (0.5 - 2%): suitable for dense gel textures or more substantial creams
- Compatible with hydroalcoholic solutions up to 50% ethanol and formulations with high salt content
- Optimal pH range: 2-12
- Synergy with guar gum and other galactomannans for specific textures and viscosities
Usage Safety and Storage
- Profile: Safe ingredient with good skin tolerance
- Precautions: External cosmetic use
- Storage: Store in a closed container in a cool, dry place, protected from light
Details
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