Rate My SPF

Acacia Senegal Gum

What Acacia Senegal Gum is & what it does

A natural plant gum, also known as gum arabic, harvested from the acacia tree and used to thicken and stabilize a formula. It helps hold the texture together and can leave a light, smooth feel on the skin. It is a gentle, widely used botanical that also turns up as a food ingredient.

What is Acacia Senegal Gum and what does it do in sunscreen?

It is a natural plant gum, also called gum arabic, that acts as a thickener and stabilizer. In a sunscreen it helps build texture, keep the formula uniform, and can give a light, smooth feel on application. It does not provide UV protection itself but supports how the product spreads and holds together.

Is Acacia Senegal Gum safe?

Yes. It is a long-used botanical gum that is also a common food ingredient (gum arabic), and it is well tolerated on the skin for most people. Our data does not flag it as an allergen, and it is used at low levels for texture.

Does Acacia Senegal Gum clog pores?

Generally no. It is a water-soluble plant gum, not an oil or wax, and it is not flagged as comedogenic in our data. As a texture ingredient used in small amounts, it is an unlikely cause of breakouts.

Is Acacia Senegal Gum natural?

Yes. It is a natural gum harvested from the sap of the acacia (Senegal) tree, the same source as gum arabic used in food. It is a plant-derived, vegan-friendly ingredient. Processing cleans and standardizes it, but its origin is botanical.

What else is Acacia Senegal Gum called?

It is most commonly known as gum arabic, and you may also see it referred to as acacia gum. On a label the INCI name is "Acacia Senegal Gum". It usually sits in the lower-to-middle part of the list among the texture ingredients.

Sunscreens with Acacia Senegal Gum

We rate 120 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

← All ingredients