Research Summary
Cosmetic formulators have numerous thickeners at their disposal to stabilize and increase the viscosity of their formulations. Traditionally, some ingredients are the most widely used for these purposes, such as polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, and other cellulose derivatives, as well as carbomer and acrylic acid derivatives (acrylates).
As an alternative to chemical compounds, many of which are of fossil origin, there are gums of natural origin, such as guar gum, Arabic gum, pectin, and alginate. There are also thickeners of mineral origin, such as aluminum and magnesium silicates, bentonite, and hectorite. However, xanthan gum stands out among all the others due to its biotechnological origin, which allows the insertion of an ingredient that, in addition to increasing viscosity, can also bring a greater degree of sustainability to the final product.
Xanthan gum is an anionic polysaccharide with a high molecular weight, industrially produced by the bacterium *Xanthomonas* sp. This gum forms pseudoplastic solutions, exhibiting good flow behavior. In addition to good formulation stability, it offers favorable sensory characteristics, such as a pleasant and light structure in the final product. It is versatile, as it can be used in both hot and cold formulations and remains stable over a wide range of pH and temperature.
Xanthan gum is applicable in the formulation of toothpaste, creams, lotions, shampoos, and more. This work highlights the properties and applications of xanthan gum in the cosmetic industry, and it discusses the advantages this biotechnologically derived ingredient brings compared to its competitors, benefiting both the final product and the companies that use it.
Keywords: Xanthan gum, Cosmetics, Biotechnological thickener.
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