Xanthan Gum
Thickener · INCI: Xanthan Gum
Reviewed by Elysiana Aguilar, master esthetician
How we read it
Not a pore-clogger. Considered safe for acne-prone skin.
Is Xanthan Gum comedogenic?
No. Xanthan Gum isn't considered pore-clogging, and we read it as safe to use on acne-prone skin. That doesn't make it right for everyone, but congestion isn't the thing to watch for with it.
Why we read it this way
Xanthan gum is a thickener made by fermenting sugar, a fine powder that swells in water to give a serum or lotion body and stop it from separating. It is a large sugar-based molecule, not a lipid. We read it as not pore-clogging.
The nuance
A little goes a long way, so it sits low on a label. Where a formula leans on it heavily the finish can feel sticky or roll into small flakes under makeup, a texture matter unrelated to pores.
Where it shows up
Serums, lotions, gel cleansers, toners, liquid foundations and creams with a natural positioning, usually in the lower half of the ingredient list.
Related ingredients
One ingredient rarely tells the whole story. The acne ingredient checker reads everything in a product at once, and there is more on what comedogenic means. Also in the guides: What acne actually is.