CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is primarily a water-phase thickener and rheology modifier, helping gels, creams, cleansers, and pastes hold viscosity and suspend particles. It can also support film formation and product stability.
What does CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is primarily a water-phase thickener and rheology modifier, helping gels, creams, cleansers, and pastes hold viscosity and suspend particles. It can also support film formation and product stability.
Is CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE clean?
It is generally well accepted in clean-beauty frameworks because it has low irritation potential and is not a common allergen. Cosmetic-grade material is expected to control salts and processing residues from manufacture.
Is CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE sustainable?
This material is typically derived from wood pulp or cotton linters, then chemically modified for water solubility and thickening performance. It is considered biodegradable and does not raise the same persistence concerns as synthetic nondegradable polymers.
Is CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE COSMOS-approved?
It is generally permitted in COSMOS-natural formulas as a chemically modified, nature-derived polymer, while COSMOS-organic status depends on the overall formula and sourcing documentation. Its profile fits Green Chemistry reasonably well through renewable feedstock use and biodegradability, though the modification step uses reactive chemistry.
How does CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE work chemically?
It is an anionic, water-soluble modified plant polysaccharide with ether-linked acid or salt substituents that hydrate into clear, shear-thinning gels. Typical use is often about 0.1% to 2%, with best performance after full hydration and broad stability across mildly acidic to alkaline pH.
Last updated 2026-08-16