What it is
Pullulan is a water-soluble polysaccharide produced by fermentation, made of maltotriose units linked into long chains. When applied and dried it forms a thin, flexible, cohesive film, which can give skin a smooth, temporarily taut feel and help hold a formula together. In sunscreens and skincare it is used as a film former, binder, and texture modifier.
Safety & warnings
Pullulan is generally well tolerated and is considered low-irritation, with a long record of safe use including in food and oral products. It is not a known fragrance allergen and is not regarded as comedogenic at cosmetic use levels.
Origin & sourcing
Natural; produced by fermentation of starch or sugar by the fungus Aureobasidium pullulans.
Questions everyone asks
What does pullulan do in a formula?
It forms a thin flexible film as it dries, which can smooth the skin surface, give a temporary tightening feel, and help bind a product together.
Where does pullulan come from?
It is a polysaccharide made by fermenting starch or sugar with the fungus Aureobasidium pullulans, so it is biologically derived rather than petroleum-based.