Topically, it has been used in lotions as a soothing agent, oil-in-water emulsifier, and as astringent. Acacia Senegal gum is used externally to cover inflamed surfaces like bums or nodular leprosy.
Thickener
Thickeners are specialized viscosity-modifying ingredients added to obtain a required viscosity. Modern high-performance thickeners for aqueous, oil-based, and surfactant systems provide effective and efficient thickening at a minimal 0.5-2% use.
Mild and naturally derived thickeners are preferable. Some are even more effective than conventional thickeners and leave a pleasing residual feel, and they don't need neutralization.
There are hard-to-thicken formulations, such as those with high salt or Sarcosinate content or pH values, which need specialized ingredients effective at low concentrations. The modern personal care ingredients industry offers a wide range of thickeners that are able to function in almost any formulation.
Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer is a high-efficiency polymeric thickener that contains a 22-carbon alkyl chain connected to the polymer backbone with a 25-mole ethylene oxide flexible extender. It dissolves readily in cold and warm water and can be cold-processed.
Allyl Methacrylates Crosspolymer is a synthetic porous polymer derived from the suspension polymerization method, similar to that used to make latex paints. It forms spherical particles with a median size of about 40 μm.
Brookswax P is a non-ionic self-emulsifying wax based on cetyl, stearyl alcohols, and ethoxylated sorbitan ester. It has an approximate HLB of 8, making it ideal for forming stable o/w emulsions with mineral oil and other commonly used hydrophobic emollients.
Cellulose is the primary component of green plants. It is an organic polysaccharide (complex carbohydrate) derived from beta-glucose and is used in conjunction with a marine focus as a natural exfoliating agent.
Guar gum is a plant polysaccharide obtained from the shrub's seeds, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba, which, like the soybean, belongs to the Family Leguminoseae. It is a non-ionic, salt-tolerant galactomannan with excellent thickening properties.
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate (MAS) is a white, highly purified mineral derived from smectite clays. It serves as stabilizing, suspending, and emulsifying agent for cosmetic formulations.
Cellulose derivatives have the polymeric backbone of cellulose, with repeating anhydroglucose units. After alkaline treatment, cellulose is reacted with methyl chloride to yield methyl ether groups. The end product is purified and ground to a fine powder and is known as methylcellulose.
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Trioleate is a methyl glucoside derivative (ethylene oxide on a methyl glucoside backbone), a vegetable-based liquid thickener with a three-dimensional structure.
Polyglyceryl-3 Laurate is a monoester for laruic acid with a polyglycerol with three glycerin units. It is a clear to slightly hazy viscous liquid with a slight characteristic odor.