Shellac ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is primarily a natural film-former, used to create gloss, hold, and a protective coating in nail, hair, and color cosmetic products.
What does Shellac do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is primarily a natural film-former, used to create gloss, hold, and a protective coating in nail, hair, and color cosmetic products.
Is Shellac clean?
From a clean beauty perspective, it is generally well-tolerated and not a common restricted-list concern. The main considerations are animal-derived sourcing and occasional sensitivity in people prone to reactions to natural resins.
Is Shellac sustainable?
This material comes from a renewable insect-derived source rather than petroleum. It is biodegradable, though its sustainability profile depends on responsible harvesting, refining practices, and supply-chain traceability.
Is Shellac COSMOS-approved?
It is generally permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic frameworks when sourced and processed according to the standard. It fits Green Chemistry better than many synthetic film-formers because it is renewable, biodegradable, and commonly processed with relatively simple solvents such as ethanol.
How does Shellac work chemically?
This material is a complex natural polyester mixture rich in hydroxy fatty acids and sesquiterpenoid acids, which gives it hard, glossy film-forming behavior. It is typically used from low single-digit percentages to higher levels in coating systems, dissolves well in alcohol or alkaline systems, and can need plasticizers because the dry film may be brittle.
Last updated 2026-05-16