Ingredient glossary
Hydroxyethylcellulose
On your shelf ✓What Hydroxyethylcellulose does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Hydroxyethylcellulose
In short: Hydroxyethylcellulose delivers viscosity control and film forming, plays a broad, supporting role, and the evidence behind it is strong.
- What it does
- Viscosity control, film forming
- Best for
- A broad, supporting role
- Evidence
- Strong
What it actually is
The Glow take
Nice to have, and nothing to overthink.
Hydroxyethylcellulose plays a quiet supporting role, rounding out a formula rather than being the reason you buy it.
— Maya
What it does
- viscosity control
- film forming
strong evidenceThe CIR cellulose derivatives review, first issued in 1986 and amended since, found hydroxyethylcellulose safe as used, with cosmetic use reported up to around 10 percent and repeated insult patch tests showing no sensitization. Its whole job is rheology.
On a label: usually effective at 0.1-1%.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
No specific skin type. It is a broadly used ingredient.
Approach with care
No specific group flagged to avoid it.
- Clogs poresLow
- Irritation riskLow
How it fits each skin type
- DryNeutral
- CombinationNeutral
- OilyNeutral
- SensitiveNeutral
Where it fits in your routine
Plays well with
- emulsifiers
- film formers
Hydroxyethylcellulose, answered
Is Hydroxyethylcellulose safe during pregnancy?
Yes. Hydroxyethylcellulose is considered safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. As with anything, if you are unsure it is worth a quick word with your doctor or midwife.
Who should avoid Hydroxyethylcellulose?
No specific group is flagged to avoid Hydroxyethylcellulose. It is well tolerated by most skin. Still, introduce anything new one product at a time.
What concentration of Hydroxyethylcellulose actually works?
Hydroxyethylcellulose tends to do its job in the 0.1 to 1% range. Much lower and it is likely underdosed.
This, for every label you own
One ingredient is easy. A full label is where it gets confusing. The Ingredient Decoder reads any product and tells you the honest truth, ingredient by ingredient.
Sources & how we reviewed this
- CIR safety review Cellulose derivatives incl hydroxyethylcellulose 1986 amended 2009summary page only, the document itself was not read