Cellulose Gum
What is it?
Cellulose is a naturally occurring component found in the cell walls of plants. There are many modified cellulose polymers including Calcium Carboxymethyl Cellulose, Carboxymethyl Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Carboxymethyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cellulose Acetate, Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Cellulose Gum, Cellulose Acetate Propionate, Cellulose Acetate Propionate Carboxylate, Cellulose Succinate, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylcellulose, Hydrolyzed Cellulose Gum, Hydroxybutyl Methylcellulose, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Methylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Acetate/Succinate, Methylcellulose, Methyl Ethylcellulose, Methyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Potassium Cellulose Succinate and Sodium Cellulose Sulfate that may be used in cosmetics and personal care products. These cellulose ingredients may be used in cosmetics and personal care products including bath products, hair products, eye and facial makeup, skin care products and shaving products.
Safety Information
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) includes Ethylcellulose, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Methyl Ethylcellulose and Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose on its list of multipurpose additives allowed to be directly added to food. FDA also permits Cellulose and a number of modified cellulose polymers to be used as indirect food additives. For example, Cellulose, Cellulose Acetate Butryate, Cellulose Acetate Propionate, Cellulose Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose and Methylcellulose can be used in adhesives in contact with food. As substances migrating to food from paper and paperboard products, FDA considers Cellulose Acetate and Ethylcellulose to be Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS).
The FDA has also approved the use of Cellulose Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose and Methylcellulose for use as ophthalmic demulcents in over-the-counter (OTC) drug products for the eyes. When used in an OTC drug product Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose must be called Hypromellose.
The safety of Cellulose, Calcium Carboxymethyl Cellulose, Carboxymethyl Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Carboxymethyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cellulose Acetate, Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Cellulose Gum, Cellulose Acetate Propionate, Cellulose Acetate Propionate Carboxylate, Cellulose Succinate, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylcellulose, Hydrolyzed Cellulose Gum, Hydroxybutyl Methylcellulose, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Methylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Acetate/Succinate, Methylcellulose, Methyl Ethylcellulose, Methyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Potassium Cellulose Succinate and Sodium Cellulose Sulfate has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that these ingredients were safe as cosmetic ingredients.
The FDA has also approved the use of Cellulose Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose and Methylcellulose for use as ophthalmic demulcents in over-the-counter (OTC) drug products for the eyes. When used in an OTC drug product Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose must be called Hypromellose.
The safety of Cellulose, Calcium Carboxymethyl Cellulose, Carboxymethyl Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Carboxymethyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cellulose Acetate, Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Cellulose Gum, Cellulose Acetate Propionate, Cellulose Acetate Propionate Carboxylate, Cellulose Succinate, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylcellulose, Hydrolyzed Cellulose Gum, Hydroxybutyl Methylcellulose, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Methylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Acetate/Succinate, Methylcellulose, Methyl Ethylcellulose, Methyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Potassium Cellulose Succinate and Sodium Cellulose Sulfate has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that these ingredients were safe as cosmetic ingredients.
Why is it used in cosmetics and personal care products?
The following functions have been reported for these ingredients.
Abrasive - Microcrystalline Cellulose
Absorbent – Cellulose, Microcrystalline Cellulose
Adhesive - Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Methyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Anticaking agent - Microcrystalline Cellulose
Binder - Carboxymethyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cellulose Gum, Cellulose Acetate Propionate Carboxylate, Ethylcellulose, Hydroxybutyl Methylcellulose, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Methylcellulose, Methyl Ethylcellulose, Sodium Cellulose Sulfate
Bulking agent – Cellulose, Microcrystalline Cellulose
Emulsion stabilizer – Calcium Carboxymethyl Cellulose, Carboxymethyl Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Carboxymethyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cellulose Gum, Cellulose Acetate Propionate Carboxylate, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydrolyzed Cellulose Gum, Hydroxybutyl Methylcellulose, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Methylcellulose, Methyl Ethylcellulose, Methyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium Cellulose Sulfate
Film former - Calcium Carboxymethyl Cellulose, Carboxymethyl Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Carboxymethyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cellulose Acetate, Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Cellulose Gum, Cellulose Acetate Propionate, Cellulose Acetate Propionate Carboxylate, Ethylcellulose, Hydrolyzed Cellulose Gum, Hydroxybutyl Methylcellulose, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Acetate/Succinate
Opacifying agent – Cellulose Succinate, Potassium Cellulose Succinate
Skin conditioning agent – humectant – Cellulose Succinate, Potassium Cellulose Succinate
Slip modifier – Cellulose, Microcrystalline Cellulose
Viscosity increasing agent - aqueous - Calcium Carboxymethyl Cellulose, Carboxymethyl Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Carboxymethyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cellulose Gum, Cellulose Acetate Propionate Carboxylate, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylcellulose, Hydrolyzed Cellulose Gum, Hydroxybutyl Methylcellulose, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Methylcellulose, Methyl Ethylcellulose, Methyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium Cellulose Sulfate
Abrasive - Microcrystalline Cellulose
Absorbent – Cellulose, Microcrystalline Cellulose
Adhesive - Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Methyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Anticaking agent - Microcrystalline Cellulose
Binder - Carboxymethyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cellulose Gum, Cellulose Acetate Propionate Carboxylate, Ethylcellulose, Hydroxybutyl Methylcellulose, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Methylcellulose, Methyl Ethylcellulose, Sodium Cellulose Sulfate
Bulking agent – Cellulose, Microcrystalline Cellulose
Emulsion stabilizer – Calcium Carboxymethyl Cellulose, Carboxymethyl Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Carboxymethyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cellulose Gum, Cellulose Acetate Propionate Carboxylate, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydrolyzed Cellulose Gum, Hydroxybutyl Methylcellulose, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Methylcellulose, Methyl Ethylcellulose, Methyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium Cellulose Sulfate
Film former - Calcium Carboxymethyl Cellulose, Carboxymethyl Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Carboxymethyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cellulose Acetate, Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Cellulose Gum, Cellulose Acetate Propionate, Cellulose Acetate Propionate Carboxylate, Ethylcellulose, Hydrolyzed Cellulose Gum, Hydroxybutyl Methylcellulose, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Acetate/Succinate
Opacifying agent – Cellulose Succinate, Potassium Cellulose Succinate
Skin conditioning agent – humectant – Cellulose Succinate, Potassium Cellulose Succinate
Slip modifier – Cellulose, Microcrystalline Cellulose
Viscosity increasing agent - aqueous - Calcium Carboxymethyl Cellulose, Carboxymethyl Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Carboxymethyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cellulose Gum, Cellulose Acetate Propionate Carboxylate, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylcellulose, Hydrolyzed Cellulose Gum, Hydroxybutyl Methylcellulose, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Methylcellulose, Methyl Ethylcellulose, Methyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium Cellulose Sulfate
Scientific facts:
Cellulose is a plant-derived material. It is a large molecule composed of relatively small chemical compounds called monomers. Cellulose is composed of glucose monomers and differs slightly from starch, which is also composed of glucose monomers.
The other ingredients in this group are all modified cellulose polymers.
The other ingredients in this group are all modified cellulose polymers.
