Alumina ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is an inorganic powder used as an abrasive, absorbent, anti-caking agent, opacifier, and texture modifier. It can also act as a coating or support for pigments in color cosmetics and sunscreens.
What does Alumina do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is an inorganic powder used as an abrasive, absorbent, anti-caking agent, opacifier, and texture modifier. It can also act as a coating or support for pigments in color cosmetics and sunscreens.
Is Alumina clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it is generally considered well tolerated because it is inert and not a sensitizing preservative or fragrance allergen. The main formulation consideration is particle size and dust control, especially for loose powders.
Is Alumina sustainable?
This material is mineral-derived and nonrenewable, with sourcing tied to mining and energy-intensive refining. It is environmentally persistent in the sense that minerals do not biodegrade, but it is not expected to bioaccumulate in the way many synthetic persistent organics can.
Is Alumina COSMOS-approved?
It is generally compatible with COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic frameworks when it meets mineral-origin and processing requirements. Its Green Chemistry profile is mixed, with good chemical inertness and no solvent burden in use, but weaker marks for nonrenewable sourcing and high-energy processing.
How does Alumina work chemically?
The molecule is a crystalline inorganic solid built from aluminum and oxygen in a strongly bonded lattice, which explains its insolubility, hardness, and low reactivity in most cosmetic systems. It is stable across typical cosmetic pH ranges and is often used below about 10% for texture or absorbency, while polishing and abrasive formats can use much higher levels.
Last updated 2026-05-13