Guar Gum in Skincare: What It Does and Why We Use It
Guar gum is a plant-based thickener that gives gels and cleansers a nicer body and feel. It is a texture ingredient, not a skin treatment, and that is exactly the job we want from it.
What is guar gum?
Guar gum (INCI: Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum) is a sugar-based polysaccharide from the seeds of the guar plant. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) describes it as a skin-conditioning and viscosity-increasing ingredient, which means it thickens a formula and helps it feel smooth.
What does guar gum do for skin?
Texture. It thickens the water phase, helps a cleanser hold together and gives a smoother feel during use.
The molecules are large, so skin penetration is considered unlikely. We do not claim it improves any skin concern.
Why we use guar gum
Guar gum is in our AHA / BHA Exfoliating Cleanser. We use it as a thickener, to give the cleanser the right body and a smooth feel in your hands.
A cleanser should feel good before it does anything else. A thickener is how you get a gel that holds together instead of running straight off your palm.
Who is guar gum good for?
Most people. If a product irritates your skin, stop using it and patch test before trying again. Our patch testing guide explains how.
How do you use it?
You do not use guar gum directly. It is part of the formula, so use the cleanser as directed: massage onto damp skin and rinse.
What does it pair with?
Gums are often used alongside other thickeners. Xanthan gum is another gum used in many cleansers and gels, and in a cleanser guar gum sits next to cleansing ingredients like cocamidopropyl betaine. Nothing needs to be kept away from it.
Is guar gum safe?
The CIR Expert Panel concluded in 2015 that the galactomannans it assessed, guar gum included, are safe in the present practices of use and concentration in cosmetics. The report lists a leave-on range of 0.02% to 1% for guar gum. That is a reported range, not a legal limit.
In the animal tests it describes, guar gum did not irritate skin and caused only minimal eye irritation.
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FAQ
Is guar gum safe in skincare?
The CIR Expert Panel concluded it is safe in the present practices of use and concentration.
Is guar gum the same as xanthan gum?
No. Guar gum comes from guar bean seeds, while xanthan gum is made by fermentation. Both thicken a formula.
Is guar gum vegan?
It comes from a plant, the guar bean.
Can guar gum irritate skin?
It did not irritate skin in the tests the CIR reports, but individual reactions can happen, so patch test new products.
Related ingredients
Xanthan gum, cocamidopropyl betaine, glycolic acid, salicylic acid and AHAs vs BHAs vs PHAs.
Sources
- Johnson W Jr, et al. Safety Assessment of Galactomannans as Used in Cosmetics. International Journal of Toxicology 2015;34(1_suppl). Full text
