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Sclerotium Gum

What Sclerotium Gum is & what it does

A natural gum that thickens and stabilizes formulas, giving a smooth, silky flow. It is robust across pH and electrolyte levels and well suited to natural formulas.

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

Sclerotium Gum is a natural gum used to thicken and stabilize a formula. In sunscreen it gives a smooth, silky flow and helps keep the product uniform so it spreads evenly. It is valued because it stays stable across a wide range of pH and electrolyte levels, which makes it a good fit for natural and mineral formulas. It appears in many products in our catalog, including tinted mineral sunscreens.

Is Sclerotium Gum safe?

Yes. It is a polysaccharide gum produced by fermentation and has a good safety record as a cosmetic thickener. It stays on the surface and works only on texture, so it is non-reactive and well tolerated for most skin, including sensitive skin. It is a common choice in gentle, natural-leaning formulas.

Does Sclerotium Gum clog pores?

Generally no. It is a water-loving gum used in tiny amounts to thicken, with no oily or waxy character, so it is not considered a pore-clogging ingredient. Its job is texture, not adding richness. Breakouts from a product are far more likely to trace back to heavier emollients in the formula.

Is Sclerotium Gum natural and vegan?

Yes. It is a naturally derived gum made by fermenting a fungus, with no animal-derived ingredients, so it suits both natural and vegan formulas. This is part of why it is popular in clean and mineral sunscreens. It is essentially a plant-style polysaccharide produced through fermentation.

What else is Sclerotium Gum called?

Sclerotium Gum is the INCI name you will see on a label, and it is sometimes referred to by trade names. It is a scleroglucan-type polysaccharide, in the same broad family as gums like xanthan that are used to thicken and stabilize. On a label it usually sits among the other texture ingredients rather than near the actives.

Sunscreens with Sclerotium Gum

We rate 173 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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