Thickening Agents

Various thickening agents are widely available. The choice is purely a question individual preference.

Thickening agents bind the water with the oil or fat. Therefore, thickening agents carry the moisture, protect the skin, and can be astringent.

A thickening agent can be natural or synthetic.

Natural thickening agents include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Gels (Aloe Vera, Tea Tree, Circulation, etc…)
• Polysaccharides which include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Xanthan Gum from the fermentation of glucose
• Guar Gum (from the seeds of the Guar plant)
• Gum Arabic (from the bark of the Acacia tree)
• Cellulose Gum (from wood)
• Pectin (from citrus)
• Alginates (from algae)
• Carrageen (from seaweed)

Synthetic thickening agents include, but are not limited to, the following:

• polymer
• carbomer