Agar
Agar is a cosmetic ingredient used as a binding, fragrance agent. It is used in 173 products in our dataset. It is regulated in the EU (listed in a Cosmetics Regulation annex). PubMed carries 4,199 studies of its skin or topical use.
| INCI name | AGAR |
| Function | BINDING, FRAGRANCE, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING |
| CAS number | 9002-18-0 |
| EC number | 232-658-1 |
| Prevalence | 173 products (0.19% of dataset) |
| Most used in | Skincare |
| EU status | Restricted (annex ) |
| Scientific studies | 4,199 on PubMed (skin/cosmetic/topical) |
| Monthly searches | 27,100 |
Used in
Serums 22%Sheet Masks 18.5%Eye Masks 13.3%General Moisturizers 6.4%Face Cleansers 5.2%Ampoules 4.6%
Frequently asked
- What does Agar do in skincare?
- Agar functions as a binding, fragrance agent in cosmetic formulas.
- Is Agar allowed in cosmetics?
- Yes, but it is regulated in the EU — it appears in a Cosmetics Regulation annex with usage conditions.
- What products contain Agar?
- It is most commonly found in Skincare products, especially serums (22% of its uses).
Manufacturers with experience using Agar
Match with vetted US contract manufacturers that have hands-on experience formulating with this ingredient.