Starch ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is used as an absorbent, bulking agent, viscosity modifier, and soft-focus powder for a drier, smoother skin feel. It can reduce greasiness in creams, powders, deodorants, and makeup.
What does Starch do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is used as an absorbent, bulking agent, viscosity modifier, and soft-focus powder for a drier, smoother skin feel. It can reduce greasiness in creams, powders, deodorants, and makeup.
Is Starch clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient is generally well-tolerated, low-irritation, and not a common restricted-list concern. The main quality consideration is good manufacturing control for moisture and microbial cleanliness, especially in water-containing formulas.
Is Starch sustainable?
This material is typically sourced from renewable crops such as corn, potato, rice, or tapioca, and it is readily biodegradable. Its sustainability profile depends on agricultural inputs, land use, and crop sourcing practices.
Is Starch COSMOS-approved?
It is generally permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic when obtained through allowed physical or enzymatic processing. It aligns well with Green Chemistry principles because it is plant-derived, biodegradable, and usually processed without aggressive chemistry.
How does Starch work chemically?
This material is a plant-derived glucose polymer blend built mainly from linear amylose and branched amylopectin, present as semi-crystalline granules. It is insoluble in cold water, swells and gelatinizes with heat, often around 60 to 80°C depending on botanical source, and is commonly used from about 1 to 10% in creams or much higher in anhydrous powders.
Last updated 2026-05-15