Agar is a polysaccharide derived from red algae used in skincare as a natural gelling, thickening, and texturizing agent to stabilize formulations. It is generally inert on skin and contributes to product consistency rather than providing a therapeutic effect.
| Reported effect | How often | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Mild skin irritation | Rare | Occasional transient irritation, often related to other formulation components rather than agar itself. |
Allergic contact dermatitis | Very rare | Hypersensitivity reactions to agar are uncommon and seldom reported in topical use. |
Frequencies reflect typical cosmetic use reported in the literature, not a guarantee for your skin.