Xanthan Gum in the Cosmetics Industry

The most important use of xanthan gum in the cosmetics industry is for making toothpaste. Its excellent shear thinning flow behavior makes the toothpaste easy to be squeezed out of the tube and pumped for dispensing. Xanthan gum is an excellent binder for all types of toothpaste. Its easy hydration and excellent enzyme stability can produce uniform and stable products and improve the products' stretchability. In addition, Xanthan gum also provides excellent stability to skin creams and lotions.

The high viscosity of xanthan gum, when it is in a static condition, is beneficial to the stability of the evenly dispersed oil phase of personal skincare products; and the shear-thinning properties of xanthan gum, when it is rubbed, can provide good lubrication and toning effects to xanthan gum cosmetics. Antioxidant ascorbic acid is often used in skincare cosmetics because it can promote collagen synthesis, prevent aging, reduce fine lines, and lighten melanin. However, in order to deliver the active ingredients to a specific location, a suitable delivery system must be selected. At this time, adding a small amount of xanthan gum as a thickening agent in the O/W micro emulsification system can have a good effect.

Xanthan gum can also be used as an opacifying agent in sunscreen skincare products to protect the skin from ultraviolet rays. In addition, xanthan gum can also be used as a thickener in whitening cosmetics in the presence of low pH and high electrolytes. Moreover, xanthan gum can also be used in eye shadow to make the eye shadow have a fluid structure and good stability, and more importantly, it can also keep the eye shadow safely at 45°C for two months. Shampoos are widely accepted because they can be used easily and it is easy for them to spread on the hair. However, when the shampoo contains small-sized particles of active ingredients, the suspension and deposition of these particles will cause various problems. At this time, adding a little xanthan gum stabilizer can then effectively improve the flow properties of the shampoo and suspend insoluble pigments and medicinal ingredients so that a stable, rich, and creamy foam can be produced. Moreover, xanthan gum also has a synergistic effect with surfactants and various other additives in a wide range of pH values.