Shellac
Shellac is a cosmetic ingredient used as a binding, skin conditioning - emollient agent. It is used in 16 products in our dataset. It is regulated in the EU (listed in a Cosmetics Regulation annex). PubMed carries 54 studies of its skin or topical use.
| INCI name | SHELLAC |
| Function | BINDING, SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, FILM FORMING, HAIR FIXING |
| CAS number | 9000-59-3 |
| EC number | 232-549-9 |
| Prevalence | 16 products (0.02% of dataset) |
| Most used in | Makeup |
| EU status | Restricted (annex ) |
| Scientific studies | 54 on PubMed (skin/cosmetic/topical) |
| Monthly searches | 40,500 |
Used in
Mascaras 31.3%Nail Care 12.5%Body Lotions 6.3%Body Scrubs 6.3%Conditioners 6.3%Essences 6.3%
Frequently asked
- What does Shellac do in skincare?
- Shellac functions as a binding, skin conditioning - emollient agent in cosmetic formulas.
- Is Shellac allowed in cosmetics?
- Yes, but it is regulated in the EU — it appears in a Cosmetics Regulation annex with usage conditions.
- What products contain Shellac?
- It is most commonly found in Makeup products, especially mascaras (31.3% of its uses).
Manufacturers with experience using Shellac
Match with vetted US contract manufacturers that have hands-on experience formulating with this ingredient.