How we scored it
Natural insect-secreted resin (analogous to waxes=1.0); 1.0.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.
Where it comes from
Harvested by scraping resin deposits secreted by lac insects from tree branches, mainly in India and Thailand, then washing and refining. No synthetic chemistry is involved.
In plain English
A natural resin secreted by the lac insect onto tree branches, then harvested and purified. Forms a glossy film, binds ingredients, conditions skin, and helps fix hairstyles.
CosIng definition: Shellac. A resin secreted by Laccifer lacca, Coccidae
References
- 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
- 2SHELLAC. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 3SHELLAC. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=SHELLAC