Cellulose
AKA “Cellulose
Synthetic
Ingredient Facts
Cellulose
Synthetic · Absorbent · EWG: 1
Plant-Derived Synthetic
Synthetic
Clean
A natural plant-based ingredient that absorbs moisture and helps create smooth, even texture in formulas. Keeps products stable and spreadable on skin.
CAS #
9004-34-6
See origin →
Functions
Absorbent
Bulking
Opacifying
Viscosity Controlling
Antioxidant
Protects skin from free radical damage caused by UV, pollution, and stress
Anti-Inflammatory
Antimicrobial
Traditional Use
Cellulose as a cosmetic ingredient is a modern industrial derivative of plant cellulose, first processed at scale in the 19th century. Used in cosmetics since the early 20th century as a thickener, binder, and texture modifier to improve product consistency.
Skin Types
all-skin-types, gentle
Best For
General
Melanin-Rich Skin
Suitable
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
EWG
1
CIR
Safe
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
ewg-1
medical-approval
pregnancy-nursing-safe
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USApermitted
EUrestricted
JAPANrestricted
CANADArestricted
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Finding Ferdinand
 →
Evaluating the Impact of Cellulose Extraction via Traditional and Ionosolv Pretreatments from Domestic Matchstick Waste on the Properties of Carboxyme
Akhlaq M, Uroos M
ACS omega, 2023
Chitosan and Cellulose-Based Hydrogels for Wound Management.
Sibusiso Alven, Blessing Atim Aderibigbe
International journal of molecular sciences, 2020
Chitosan and Cellulose-Based Hydrogels for Wound Management.
Sibusiso Alven, Blessing Atim Aderibigbe
International journal of molecular sciences, 2020
Effect of hydration on the structure of non aqueous ethyl cellulose/propylene glycol dicaprylate gels.
Bruno L, Kasapis S, Heng PW
International journal of biological macromolecules, 2012
Final Amended Safety Assessment of Cellulose and Related Cellulose Polymers
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Methylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, and Cellulose Gum
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Safety Assessment of Nitrocellulose and Collodion as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Calcium Carboxymethyl Cellulose
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Carboxymethyl Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Carboxymethyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Cellulose
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Cellulose Acetate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Cellulose Acetate Propionate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Cellulose Acetate Propionate Carboxylate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Cellulose Succinate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Ethylcellulose
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Hydrolyzed Cellulose Gum
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Hydroxybutyl Methylcellulose
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Hydroxyethylcellulose
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Hydroxyethylcellulose/Phosphorylcholine Glycol Acrylate Copolymer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Acetate/Succinate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Hydroxypropylcellulose
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Methyl Ethylcellulose
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Methyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Methylcellulose (4000 cps)
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
microcrystalline cellulose
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Nitrocellulose
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Potassium Cellulose Succinate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Sodium Cellulose Sulfate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Xylan-cellulose core structure of oat water-extractable β-glucan macromolecule: Insight into interactions and organization of the cell wall complex.
Cyran MR, Snochowska KK, Potrzebowski MJ, Kaźmierski S, Azadi P et al.
Carbohydrate polymers, 2024
Developing a stable aqueous enteric coating formulation with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS-MF) and colloidal silicon dioxide
Deshpande TM, Quadir A, Obara S, Ibrahim A, Hoag SW
International journal of pharmaceutics, 2018
Calcium Carboxymethyl Cellulose
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Carboxymethyl Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Carboxymethyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Cellulose
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Cellulose Acetate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Cellulose Acetate Propionate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Cellulose Gum
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Ethylcellulose
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Hydroxypropylcellulose
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Methyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Methylcellulose
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
microcrystalline cellulose
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Nitrocellulose
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Biocompatible zinc oxide nanocrystals stabilized via hydroxyethyl cellulose for mitigation of diabetic complications.
Hussein J, El-Banna M, Razik TA, El-Naggar ME
International journal of biological macromolecules, 2018
Effects of ethylcellulose and 2-octyldodecanol additives on skin permeation and irritation with ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer matrix patches contai
Kakubari I, Sasaki H, Takayasu T, Yamauchi H, Takayama S et al.
Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin, 2006
Ethyl Cellulose and Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose Blended Methotrexate-Loaded Transdermal Patches: In Vitro and Ex Vivo.
Latif MS, Azad AK, Nawaz A, Rashid SA, Rahman MH et al.
Polymers, 2021
The bioactive composite film prepared from bacterial cellulose and modified by hydrolyzed gelatin peptide.
Lin SB, Chen CC, Chen LC, Chen HH
Journal of biomaterials applications, 2015
Cellulose sulfate: tolerance and acceptability of penile application.
Mauck C, Frezieres R, Walsh T, Robergeau K, Callahan M
Contraception, 2001
Cellulose Acetate-Based Wound Dressings Loaded with Bioactive Agents: Potential Scaffolds for Wound Dressing and Skin Regeneration.
Ndlovu SP, Alven S, Hlalisa K, Aderibigbe BA
Current drug delivery, 2024
Bacterial cellulose skin masks-Properties and sensory tests.
Pacheco G, de Mello CV, Chiari-Andréo BG, Isaac VLB, Ribeiro SJL et al.
Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2018
Cellulose derivatives and natural gums as gelling agents for preparation of emulgel-based dosage forms: A brief review.
Raeisi Estabragh MA, Sajadi Bami M, Dehghannoudeh G, Noudeh YD, Moghimipour E
International journal of biological macromolecules, 2023
Microcrystalline cellulose: Isolation, characterization and bio-composites application-A review.
Trache D, Hussin MH, Hui Chuin CT, Sabar S, Fazita MR et al.
International journal of biological macromolecules, 2016
Mosquito bite prevention through self-assembled cellulose nanocrystals.
Voignac D, Sar-Shalom E, Paltiel Y, Shoseyov O, Bohbot J
PNAS nexus, 2023
Elucidating the in vivo fate of pharmaceutical excipient sodium carboxymethylcellulose in rats using UHPLC- Q TRAP MS/MS and UHPLC- Q TOF MS/MS approa
Yang N, Liu J, Mu K, Liang A, Yin G et al.
Bioanalysis, 2026
Electrospun chitosan//ethylcellulose-vitamin E//ethylcellulose-curcumin tri-chamber eccentric Janus nanofibers for a joint antibacterial and antioxida
Zhang Z, Xia Y, Gong W, Zhou J, Yu DG et al.
International journal of biological macromolecules, 2024
Verified Feb 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR