Is Xanthan Gum safe in cosmetics?
Xanthan Gum has a safety rating of "EXCELLENT" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted. 10 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Xanthan Gum
Also known as: EINECS 234-394-2, Gum xanthan, UNII-TTV12P4NEE
INCI: XANTHAN GUM
Xanthan Gum (CAS 11138-66-2) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Rheology modifier, thickener, stabilizer, suspending agent. Reported NOAEL =20 mg/kg in rat (CIR_vision_codex); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 11138-66-2 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Rheology modifier, thickener, stabilizer, suspending agent
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
GRAS for food (FDA); CIR-assessed safe. No use restriction.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Xanthan Gum.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
10 study endpoints found for Xanthan Gum. NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) values are used to calculate the Margin of Safety per SCCS methodology.
| Endpoint | Value | Route | Species | Study Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOAEL | =20 mg/kg | oral | rat | oral toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =20 mg/kg | oral | rat | oral toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =20 mg/kg | oral | rat | oral toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =20 mg/kg | oral | rat | oral toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =100 mg/kg BW/d | oral | rat | oral toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =100 mg/kg BW/d | oral | rat | oral toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =100 mg/kg BW/d | oral | rat | oral toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =100 mg/kg BW/d | oral | rat | oral toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =2000 mg/kg BW | oral | rat | reproductive toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =2000 mg/kg BW | oral | rat | reproductive toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
Dermal Penetration Profile
Skin absorption and penetration characteristics of Xanthan Gum, relevant to systemic exposure and MoS calculations.
Absorption %
0%
Penetration Level
surface
Penetration Depth
surface only
Molecular Weight
Variable Da
Log P
n/a
Systemic Absorption
no
Topical Bioavailability
0%
Safety Margin Factor
none
Source: CIR
EPA ToxValDB — Toxicity Values
1 toxicity value from EPA ToxValDB (aggregated from CCTE, HPV, ToxRefDB, IRIS, and other regulatory dossiers).
| Endpoint | Value | Species | Route | Duration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEL | =214 mg/kg-day | Human | oral | short-term | EFSA |
Typical Use Concentrations
Reported concentration ranges per product category from SCCS/CIR/industry sources.
| Product Category | Typical Range | Max Reported | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face Cream | 0.1–0.5 | 2 | CIR/VCRP |
| Shampoo | 0.1–0.5 | 1 | CIR/VCRP |
| Body Lotion | 0.1–0.5 | 1 | CIR/VCRP |
Additional Ingredient Properties
10 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
acne
{"cas_number": "11138-66-2", "anti_acne_mechanism": "anti_inflammatory", "comedogenicity_rating_0_to_5": "0", "acne_type_efficacy": "inflammatory", "sebum_reduction_pct_clinical": "0-5", "prescription_required_usa": "No", "otc_drug_monograph_category": "No", "max_otc_concentration_pct": "No limit", "japan_quasi_drug_anti_acne": "No", "korea_functional_cosmetic_acne": "No", "eu_cosmetic_restriction…
anti_aging
{"anti_aging_claim": "hydration-plumping", "mechanism_of_action": "Humectant, water binding, barrier support", "target_skin_layer": "stratum corneum, epidermis", "collagen_stimulation": "No", "elastin_protection": "No", "wrinkle_reduction_pct": "4-8", "clinical_study_duration_weeks": "8", "sample_size": "30", "double_blind": "No", "placebo_controlled": "Yes", "published_journal": "JDD, Int J Cosme…
anti_pollution
{"cas_number": "11138-66-2", "ingredient_class": "anti_pollution", "primary_mechanism": "film_forming_barrier", "pollution_types_targeted": "PM2_5", "IR_A_protection": "no", "visible_light_protection": "no", "digital_screen_protection_claim": "no", "PAH_neutralization": "no", "ozone_protection": "no", "mitochondrial_protection": "no", "Nrf2_activation": "no", "AhR_pathway_modulation": "no", "NF_kB…
baby_pediatric
{"cas_number": "11138-66-2", "ingredient_class": "thickener_baby_safe", "pediatric_safety_rating": "excellent", "minimum_age_months": "0", "neonatal_safe": "yes", "premature_infant_safe": "yes", "skin_barrier_maturity_consideration": "Polysaccharide, natural, safe, GRAS", "transepidermal_absorption_risk_pediatric": "very_low", "dose_per_kg_body_weight_concern": "Non-absorbed", "skin_surface_area_t…
biopolymer
{"cas_number": "11138-66-2", "polymer_class": "microbial_gum", "botanical_source": "Xanthomonas campestris fermentation", "molecular_weight_range_kDa": "1000-50000", "monosaccharide_composition": "glucose/mannose/glucuronic acid (2.8:3:2)", "degree_of_branching": "highly_branched", "charge_type": "anionic", "viscosity_1pct_solution_mPas": "1200-1600", "pseudoplastic_behavior": "strong", "thixotrop…
comedogenicity_detail
{"comedogenicity_rating": "0", "irritancy_rating": "0", "skin_type_suitability": "all,oily,combination,normal,acne-prone", "acne_safe": "yes", "source": "Natural thickener"}
concentration
{"min_concentration_pct": "0.1", "max_concentration_pct": "1.0", "typical_concentration_pct": "0.3", "product_type": "Cleanser", "function_at_concentration": "Thickener", "source": "CIR Safety Assessment"}
cost_pricing
{"cost_tier": "budget", "estimated_cost_per_kg_usd_low": "10", "estimated_cost_per_kg_usd_high": "18", "natural_premium_markup_pct": "15", "organic_certified_premium_pct": "30", "supply_chain_volatility": "low", "primary_source_region": "China/Europe", "synthetic_vs_natural_cost_ratio": "1.6", "bulk_discount_threshold_kg": "200", "seasonal_price_variation": "low", "commodity_or_specialty": "commod…
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Anti-caking agent
Binder
Degradant/impurity
Drier
Dye
Emulsifier
Filler
Film former
Fixing agent (mordant)
Flavouring and nutrient
Regulatory List Membership (5)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
EU Restricted for Children (Cosmetics)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Xanthan Gum.
Regulatory Flags
eu-compliant
biodegradable
reach-spm-exempt
natural-polymer
cosmos-eligible
ecocert
gras
particle-suspension
electrolyte-tolerant
carbomer-alternative
synergistic-with-locust-bean-gum
synergistic-with-sclerotium-gum
eu_children_restricted
epa_safer_alternative
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
jecfa_safe
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Xanthan Gum by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
12
Lowest NOAEL
20
Highest NOAEL
2000
Units vary across source rows: mg/kg BW, mg/kg BW/d, mg/kg
CIR_vision_codex
Known Synonyms
EINECS 234-394-2
Gum xanthan
UNII-TTV12P4NEE
Chemical Function
Viscosity modifier
Binder
Thickening agent
Dye
Surfactant (surface active agent)
Film former
Softener and conditioner
Emulsifier
Regulatory Lists
drinking_water; Europe; manufacturing; plastic_additive
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
inert_ingredient; Pesticides
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
children; Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care - general moisturizing - hand/body lotion
children; Europe; Personal care - dental care - toothpaste
children; Europe; Personal care
animal_products
Europe; Personal care
Europe; Personal care
Europe; Personal care
Europe; Personal care
Europe; Personal care
Europe; Personal care
IFRA Transparency
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Xanthan Gum allowed in the EU?
Xanthan Gum EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Xanthan Gum do in cosmetics?
Xanthan Gum functions as: Rheology modifier, thickener, stabilizer, suspending agent. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 11138-66-2.
What is the NOAEL for Xanthan Gum?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Xanthan Gum is =20 mg/kg based on a oral toxicity study via oral route in rat. A total of 10 study endpoints are available. Source: CIR_vision_codex.
Is Xanthan Gum used outside cosmetics?
Xanthan Gum also appears in industrial chemical safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Xanthan Gum compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
Related Ingredients
Algin
Excellent
Same category
gelling agent, thickener, film-formin...
Arrowroot Powder
Excellent
Same category
absorbent; bulking agent; slip agent;...
Bentonite
Excellent
Same category
rheology modifier, thickener, suspend...
Carbomer
Excellent
Same category
Film-forming polymer; thickener; gell...
Cellulose Gum
Excellent
Same category
rheology modifier, thickener, binder
Ceratonia Siliqua Gum
Excellent
Same category
rheology modifier, thickener, gelling...
1-Methylhydantoin-2-imide (Creatinine)
Excellent
Similar safety
Skin conditioning (skin brightening/l...
2,6-Dimethyl-7-octen-2-ol (Dihydromyrcenol)
Excellent
Similar safety
Fragrance (perfuming), masking
2-Ethoxy-2,6,6-Trimethyl-9-Methylenebicyclo[3.3.1]Nonane (Boisiris™)
Excellent
Similar safety
Fragrance (rich woody, orris/iris roo...
2-Hydroxypropylcarbamato Amodimethicone
Excellent
Similar safety
Hair conditioning; modified aminosili...
2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Excellent
Similar safety
Softener and conditioner
3 O Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Excellent
Similar safety
Antioxidant; tyrosinase inhibitor; me...
Barium Hexaferrite
Poor
Chemical family
Not a cosmetic ingredient (magnetic c...
Dehydroxanthan Gum
Excellent
Chemical family
Emulsion Stabilizing, Film Forming, H...
Trimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate
Good
Chemical family
Emollient
Is Xanthan Gum in Your Products?
Scan any product label with Piro — our free ingredient scanner. Point your camera at the ingredients list and get instant safety scores for every ingredient.
Try Piro Free →Analyze Your Full Ingredient List
Paste any INCI list into the Decoder for instant safety analysis, or calculate the Margin of Safety for Xanthan Gum in your formulation.