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Sodium Carrageenan
AKA “Carrageenan, Irish Moss Extract”
Ingredient
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Ingredient Facts
Sodium carrageenan
AKA: Irish Moss Extract
Ingredient · Emulsion Stabilising · EWG: 1
Synthetic
Occlusive
Emulsifier
Marine
Clean
Carrageenan, sodium salt
CAS #
9061-82-9, 60616-95-7
See origin →
Functions
Antistatic
Binding
Emulsion Stabilising
Forces oil and water to stay mixed instead of separating into layers. The unsung hero holding your lotion together.
Film Forming
Creates a physical seal on skin to lock moisture in and keep irritants out. The "slugging" ingredient — barrier protection.
Viscosity Controlling
Anti-Inflammatory
Antimicrobial
Fights Acne
Traditional Use
Extracted from red seaweed (Chondrus crispus and related species) harvested off the Irish coast since the 16th century for food and textile uses. Adopted in modern cosmetics in the 20th century as a thickener and gelling agent.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
EWG
1
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
Dermal absorption: 2%. Source: CIR Safety Assessment (CIR Seq 680).
Regulatory Status
USA✔ permitted
EU⚠ restricted
JAPAN⚠ restricted
CANADA⚠ restricted
Calcium Carrageenan
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
carrageenan
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Hydrolyzed Carrageenan
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Potassium Carrageenan
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Potassium Undecylenoyl Carrageenan
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Sodium Carrageenan
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Sodium/TEA-Undecylenoyl Carrageenan
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Calcium Carrageenan
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
carrageenan
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Sodium Carrageenan
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Biochemical Characteristics and Potential Biomedical Applications of Hydrolyzed Carrageenans.
Humayun S, Premarathna AD, Rjabovs V, Howlader MM, Darko CNS et al.
Marine drugs, 2023
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Kappaphycus alvarezii as a renewable source of kappa-carrageenan and other cosmetic ingredients.
Nurani W, Anwar Y, Batubara I, Arung ET, Fatriasari W
International journal of biological macromolecules, 2024
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Physicochemical characterization of sodium stearoyl lactylate (SSL), polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (Tween 20) and κ-carrageenan.
Ortiz-Tafoya MC, Tecante A
Data in brief, 2018
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Carrageenan: a natural seaweed polysaccharide and its applications.
Prajapati VD, Maheriya PM, Jani GK, Solanki HK
Carbohydrate polymers, 2014
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Carrageenan: a natural seaweed polysaccharide and its applications.
Prajapati VD, Maheriya PM, Jani GK, Solanki HK
Carbohydrate polymers, 2014
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Carrageenan: a natural seaweed polysaccharide and its applications.
Prajapati VD, Maheriya PM, Jani GK, Solanki HK
Carbohydrate polymers, 2014
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Immunomodulation by xylan and carrageenan-type polysaccharides from red seaweeds: Anti-inflammatory, wound healing, cytoprotective, and anticoagulant
Premarathna AD, Ahmed TAE, Rjabovs V, Hammami R, Critchley AT et al.
International journal of biological macromolecules, 2024
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Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR