What is "XANTHAN GUM" and what does it do?

Role: TEXTURE

Family: Natural or hemisynthesized polymer

Comedogenic index: 0

Xanthan gum is one of the most commonly used thickeners and emulsion stabilizers. If a product is too liquid, adding a little xanthan gum will make it more gelatinous. Used alone, it can make the formula sticky, which is why it is generally combined with other thickeners.

The fermentation process uses the Xanthomonas campestris bacterium, from which this ingredient takes its name.

XANTHAN GUM is a natural polysaccharide discovered in the 50s during research into the industrial applications of microbial biopolymers. It is produced by the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris, present on cabbage plants. This polysaccharide, known as xanthan gum, has remarkable properties as a rheological control agent in aqueous systems and as a stabilizer for emulsions, suspensions and foams.

To obtain the xanthan gum used in many cosmetic products, different types of natural sugars such as glucose, mannose, glucuronic acid and pyruvic acid are fermented. The fermented mixture is then pasteurized, filtered and centrifuged. After drying and grinding, an odorless, tasteless white powder is obtained. This powder can be dissolved in hot or cold water before being incorporated into a cosmetic product to give it a gel-like texture.

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