Rate My SPF

Cellulose Gum

What Cellulose Gum is & what it does

A plant-derived thickener and stabilizer that adds body and a smooth flow to formulas. It also forms a light film that improves slip.

What is Cellulose Gum and what does it do in sunscreen?

Cellulose Gum is a plant-derived thickener and stabilizer. In a sunscreen it adds body and a smooth, even flow to the formula and helps keep the ingredients evenly mixed. It also forms a light film that improves slip, so the product glides on more easily.

Is Cellulose Gum safe?

Yes. Cellulose Gum is a derivative of plant cellulose and is so well tolerated that it is also used as a food thickener, where it is known as the additive E466. It stays on the surface and is not absorbed, and it has a long, reassuring safety record in both food and cosmetics.

Does Cellulose Gum clog pores?

No. It is not flagged as comedogenic in our data. Cellulose Gum is a water-soluble thickener, not an oil or wax, so it is not a pore-clogging ingredient and is generally considered fine for acne-prone skin.

Is Cellulose Gum natural?

It is plant-derived. Cellulose Gum is made from cellulose, the fiber found in plant cell walls, which is then modified to make it water-soluble and useful as a thickener. So it starts from a natural raw material and is processed to do its job in the formula.

What else is Cellulose Gum called on an ingredient list?

Cellulose Gum is the INCI name you will see on a label. It is the same ingredient as carboxymethylcellulose, sometimes shortened to CMC, and in food it carries the E-number E466. It usually appears low on the list with the other thickeners and stabilizers.

Sunscreens with Cellulose Gum

We rate 382 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

← All ingredients