CosmeticBet
Softeners and thickeners

Xanthan gum

INCI: XANTHAN GUM

A thickener made by bacteria.

How common

All products15%
In sunscreens55%
In face moisturisers47%
In toothpastes42%

2,254 of 14,784 products with a full ingredient list in Open Beauty Facts; No. 17 of all the names found on their labels.

What it is

  • A large sugar-based molecule (a polysaccharide), made by fermentation with the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris.

    SourceHide
    XG is a high molecular weight, microbial heteropolysaccharide and is produced as a fermented product of Gram-negative bacteria, Xanthomonas campestris.[1] Review · 2023 · open source

Why it is in products

  • To thicken products and keep emulsions from separating; it is also listed as a film former and binder.

    2 sourcesHide
    Traditionally, it has been used as a thickener in liquid formulations and an emulsion stabiliser.[1] Review · 2023 · open source
    including emulsion stabilizer, film former, binder, viscosity-increasing agent, and skin-conditioning agent[2] US Cosmetic Ingredient Review expert panel · 2016 · open source

What it does

  • Like other gums, it lowers the water available to germs, which helps preserve the product.

    Some evidence2 sourcesHide
    certain substances can reduce the water activity (aw)[3] Study · 2018 · open source
    and hydrocolloids (xanthan gum, guar gum, etc.)[3] Study · 2018 · open source

Downsides and safety

  • The US expert panel found the microbial gums used in cosmetics, the family xanthan belongs to, safe as used.

    Well established2 sourcesHide
    The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel assessed the safety of 34 microbial polysaccharide gums for use in cosmetics, finding that these ingredients are safe in cosmetic formulations in the present practices of use and concentration.[2] US Cosmetic Ingredient Review expert panel · 2016 · open source
    microbial heteropolysaccharide[1] Review · 2023 · open source

Where it works

Works insidethe product

In the product, where it thickens and holds the mix together.

SourceHide
Traditionally, it has been used as a thickener in liquid formulations and an emulsion stabiliser.[1] Review · 2023 · open source

Rules

European Union

  • No EU limit: it is not on the regulation’s lists of banned or restricted substances, preservatives or UV filters.

    How we checkedHide
    We searched Annexes II to VI of the EU regulation (consolidated text of 18 May 2026): no entry.open the list

United States

  • Not on the FDA’s list of prohibited or restricted cosmetic ingredients. In the US, cosmetics and their ingredients (other than colour additives) don’t need FDA approval before sale.

    SourceHide
    Under U.S. law, cosmetic products and ingredients, other than color additives, do not need FDA approval before they go on the market[4] US Food and Drug Administration · open source
    We searched the FDA’s list of prohibited and restricted cosmetic ingredients: no entry.open the list

Sources

  1. Advances in Xanthan Gum-Based Systems for the Delivery of Therapeutic Agents Jadav M et al., Pharmaceutics, 2023Review
  2. Safety Assessment of Microbial Polysaccharide Gums as Used in Cosmetics International journal of toxicology, 2016US Cosmetic Ingredient Review expert panel
  3. Cosmetics Preservation: A Review on Present Strategies Molecules : A Journal of Synthetic Chemistry and Natural Product Chemistry, 2018Study
  4. Prohibited & Restricted Ingredients in Cosmetics | FDA US Food and Drug Administration

Checked against these sources on 4 November 2026. Spot a mistake? Tell us.