SEPPIC, a French supplier of excipients and actives for the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, vaccine and nutrition markets, presented a new thickening and texturizing polymer of 100% plant origin on the occasion of the Beyond Beauty Event, which opened its doors in Paris on September 10-12, 2012.

A real natural gum, the Solagum Tara [1] is a polysaccharide derived from Tara seeds, an emblematic shrub native to the Andean valleys of Peru. According to SEPPIC, it can be used to thicken and stabilize emulsions and cream-gels and also acts as a texturizing agent by providing them with a structuring effect and soft feel.

Marketed as a powder that hydrates instantly in water, this non-ionic polysaccharide can be used hot or cold. Solagum Tara is recommended for medium or thick consistency formulations in concentrations ranging from 0.5% to 2%. It completes SEPPIC’s range of natural polymers, including Solagum Ax (based on acacia and xanthan), designed for formulas with thinner consistencies,” says SEPPIC in a release.

Another asset of Solagum Tara, its high resistance to electrolytes, making it particularly suitable for Chassis formulas. “Even when enriched with active ingredients, the formulas maintain a constant viscosity (tested with up to 2% NaCl),” adds SEPPIC.