Shellac
AKA “Lac Resin, Shellac Resin”
Synthetic
Ingredient Facts
Shellac
AKA: Lac Resin, Shellac Resin
Synthetic · Emollient · EWG: 4
Synthetic
Emollient
Occlusive
Skin Conditioner
Synthetic
Clean
A natural resin that helps create a smooth, long-lasting finish while conditioning skin and hair. Keeps formulas at the perfect consistency.
CAS #
9000-59-3
Form
Powder
See origin →
Functions
Binding
Film Forming
Creates a physical seal on skin to lock moisture in and keep irritants out. The "slugging" ingredient — barrier protection.
Hair Fixing
Emollient
Fills in the tiny cracks between skin cells to make everything feel smooth and soft. The "silky finish" ingredient.
Viscosity Controlling
Locks In Moisture
Traditional Use
Resinous substance secreted by the lac beetle, traditionally used in India and Southeast Asia for centuries as a natural varnish and in traditional medicine; later adopted in cosmetics as a film-forming agent in nail polish.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Melanin-Rich Skin
Suitable
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Shellac
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Shellac
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Shellac.
Das S, Jacob SE
Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug, 2011
Shellac
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Verified Feb 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR