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Ethylcellulose

What Ethylcellulose is & what it does

Ethylcellulose is a film-forming polymer made by ethylating cellulose, a plant-derived carbohydrate. In sunscreens and color cosmetics it forms a thin, flexible film that improves water resistance, binds pigments, and helps the product wear evenly. It is widely used as a binder and viscosity agent across cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulas.

Is Ethylcellulose safe?

Ethylcellulose is a widely used film-former and binder in cosmetics, foods, and pharmaceuticals and is generally regarded as safe at the levels used. On skin it mainly forms a thin film rather than penetrating. As always, patch testing a new product is sensible for sensitive skin.

What does Ethylcellulose do in skincare?

Ethylcellulose is a film-forming polymer that helps products wear evenly, binds pigments, and can improve water resistance, which makes it useful in sunscreens and color cosmetics. It also acts as a thickener to adjust texture. It is a formulation aid rather than a skin active.

Is Ethylcellulose natural or synthetic?

Ethylcellulose is best described as semi-synthetic: it is made by chemically modifying cellulose, a natural plant-derived carbohydrate, with ethyl groups. So it starts from a natural raw material but is processed in the lab. It is typically suitable for vegan formulas since cellulose is plant-based.

Sunscreens with Ethylcellulose

We rate 28 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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