Nitrocellulose
AKA “Cellulose Nitrate, Pyroxylin, Gun Cotton”
Ingredient
Ingredient Facts
Nitrocellulose
AKA: Cellulose Nitrate, Pyroxylin, Gun Cotton
Ingredient · Film Forming · EWG: 1
Synthetic
Occlusive
Clean
Cellulose, nitrate
CAS #
9004-70-0
Form
Powder
See origin →
Functions
Film Forming
Creates a physical seal on skin to lock moisture in and keep irritants out. The "slugging" ingredient — barrier protection.
Creates Protective Barrier
Dispersing Non Surfactant
Fights Bacteria
Creates protective layer
Evenly distributes particles
Traditional Use
Developed in the 1840s as a modified cellulose compound through nitric acid treatment. Adopted by the cosmetics industry in the early 20th century as the primary film-forming agent in nail polish, providing color, shine, and durability.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
Safety Assessment of Nitrocellulose and Collodion as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Nitrocellulose
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Nitrocellulose
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR