Sodium Carboxymethylstarch ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is used mainly as a viscosity modifier, absorbent, binder, and stabilizer, helping water-based formulas thicken and hold texture. It can also support a soft, powdery skin feel in creams, gels, and powders.
What does Sodium Carboxymethylstarch do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is used mainly as a viscosity modifier, absorbent, binder, and stabilizer, helping water-based formulas thicken and hold texture. It can also support a soft, powdery skin feel in creams, gels, and powders.
Is Sodium Carboxymethylstarch clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient is generally well tolerated and does not sit on common restricted lists. The main quality consideration is control of processing residues and salts from its modification step.
Is Sodium Carboxymethylstarch sustainable?
This material is typically derived from plant starch, so its feedstock can be renewable. It is generally biodegradable, with a lower persistence profile than many synthetic film-forming polymers.
Is Sodium Carboxymethylstarch COSMOS-approved?
It is generally compatible with COSMOS-natural style formulation when sourced and processed according to the standard, though organic certification depends on the full raw-material dossier. Its Green Chemistry profile is supported by a renewable starch backbone and biodegradability, with some compromise from chemical modification and salt byproducts.
How does Sodium Carboxymethylstarch work chemically?
The molecule is an anionic, water-swellable modified polysaccharide with carboxymethyl groups that improve hydration, dispersion, and thickening behavior. It is typically used at low single-digit levels, performs best in aqueous systems, and can lose viscosity in high-electrolyte formulas or under extreme pH conditions.
Last updated 2026-05-13