Sterculia urens gum

AKA: Ghost tree, Karaya gum, Indian tragacanth
Plant-Derived Synthetic
Emulsifier
Not Clean
OriginNative to India. Derived from resin of Sterculia urens trees in the Malvaceae family, native to India. Extracted by tapping tree trunks to collect dried resin, then processed into gum form.
Sterculia Urens Gum is the dried exudate (Karaya gum) of the tree Sterculia urens, Sterculiaceae
CAS #
9000-36-6
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
Functions
Binding
Emulsion Stabilising
Forces oil and water to stay mixed instead of separating into layers. The unsung hero holding your lotion together.
Hair Fixing
Viscosity Controlling
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed1 review →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
Concentration Guide
Leave-on0.2–0.7%
Rinse-offNot reported
0%50%100%
CIR reported use · 2013 survey
Regulatory Status
USA✔ permitted
EU⚠ restricted
JAPAN⚠ restricted
CANADA⚠ restricted
Verified Jun 2026
Data: Kew POWO · CosIng · EWG · CIR