Gum in a personal care product? It seems contradictory – wouldn’t that solidify a free-flowing powder? However, a variety of gums are regularly added into personal care products. Learn how gums are valuable assets to skin care manufacturers and how you can benefit from one from the vast inventory of the personal care chemical supplier, Bell Chem.

Xanthan gum 

In personal care products, xanthan gum reigns supreme as a multi-purpose tool. It improves the consistency of gels and serums and stabilizes oil and water combinations as an emulsifier. Because xanthan gum is extremely affordable and easy to source, many manufacturers turn to it before all other gums.  Xanthan gum can be used in a wide pH range and is stable in cold- or hot-processed products. Xanthan gum works well with anionic and nonionic ingredients.

Locust bean gum 

As the name describes, locust bean gum is harvested from plants and is therefore considered vegan. Added to creams, gels, and lotions for hair and skin, locust bean gum has a very good gelling capacity. 

Guar gum 

A thickener derived from the Cyamopsis tetragonolobus legume, guar gum hydrates in warm or cold water to produce a thick gel. Its consistency changes to stringy when used alone, but in conjunction with xanthan gum, the product becomes highly viscous. Since it does not carry a charge, guar gum can be used with ingredients of any ionic charge. 

Arabic (acacia) gum 

While arabic gum is not ideal as a thickener, it is an excellent stabilizer and emulsifier, interacting primarily with lipids. Its other positive attribute is the silky feel it imparts to skin products. For any products that change the skin’s color, arabic gum acts as a film that allows pigments within the foundation to adhere to the skin.

Tragacanth (trag) gum

Traditionally manufactured from the sap of plants, vegan tragacanth gum is used in shampoo, where it may promote hair growth. As an emulsifier, you often see tragacanth gum added to lotions and creams. When compared to arabic gum, only half the amount of tragacanth gum is necessary for similar results.

Bell Chem is a personal care chemical supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including triethanolamine. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.