The Caesalpinia spinosa gum is extracted from the seeds of tara, a shrub native to the Peruvian Andes. It belongs to the family of plant polysaccharides and has the distinctive ability to perform two roles at once: a moisturizing active and a texture agent.
It consists of galactomannans, chains of sugars that, when they come into contact with water, form a three-dimensional network on the skin. The difference compared with a classic humectant lies in the timing: that network does not merely retain water, it releases it gradually, so hydration lasts throughout the day instead of wearing off within the first hour. In the hydrolyzed version, the chains are shorter and reach deeper layers, while the whole gum remains on the surface: using them together covers both levels.
It is found in serums and cleansers, where it performs both functions at once: it gives the texture body and leaves the skin soft after rinsing. In soothing formulas, it contributes to the film that reduces the feeling of tightness.
It is an ingredient that makes it possible to achieve a pleasant texture without resorting to synthetic polymers: the same molecule that makes the product pleasant to the touch is also the one that moisturizes. This is the kind of choice that reduces the number of ingredients in an INCI instead of increasing it.
