A seaweed polysaccharide used as a skin-conditioning and viscosity-controlling ingredient.
What it is
Agarose is a linear polysaccharide built from galactose units, the main gelling component of agar. According to CosIng it is extracted from red seaweeds (Gracilaria). CosIng lists it as a skin-conditioning and viscosity-controlling ingredient.
Where it is used
Found in a small number of gels, masks and other skin care products.
Limits of interpretation
The INCI list shows which ingredients are present, not how much of each. Above 1%, ingredients are listed in descending order of weight; below 1% the order is free.
The INCI name does not show the gel strength or the molecular weight.
Functions
- Skin conditioning
- Maintaining the skin in good condition.
- Viscosity controlling
- Increasing or decreasing the viscosity (thickness) of cosmetics.
EU regulation
This ingredient is not listed in the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 in the CosIng data.