Argilla/Magnesium Aluminum Silicate ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is used as a rheology modifier, suspending agent, and emulsion stabilizer. It helps thicken water-based formulas, keep powders or pigments evenly dispersed, and improve product texture.
What does Argilla/Magnesium Aluminum Silicate do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is used as a rheology modifier, suspending agent, and emulsion stabilizer. It helps thicken water-based formulas, keep powders or pigments evenly dispersed, and improve product texture.
Is Argilla/Magnesium Aluminum Silicate clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it is generally well accepted because it is inert, non-fragrant, and not a common sensitizer. Eye or skin dryness can occur in high-powder or mask formats, mainly from absorbency rather than allergy.
Is Argilla/Magnesium Aluminum Silicate sustainable?
This material is mineral-sourced and obtained through mining, so its main sustainability considerations are land use, energy for extraction, and responsible sourcing. It is not biodegradable in the organic sense, but it is inorganic, nonvolatile, and not expected to bioaccumulate.
Is Argilla/Magnesium Aluminum Silicate COSMOS-approved?
It is generally permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic when sourced and processed by allowed physical methods. It fits Green Chemistry reasonably well as a low-reactivity mineral ingredient, although it is not renewable and depends on responsible extraction practices.
How does Argilla/Magnesium Aluminum Silicate work chemically?
The molecule is best understood as a hydrated, plate-like mineral network with charged surfaces that swell in water and build viscosity through particle interaction. It is commonly used around 0.5% to 5%, hydrates best with adequate mixing, and can lose thickening efficiency in high-electrolyte or very low-pH systems.
Last updated 2026-08-29