Barium Sulfate ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is used as an opacifier, white pigment, bulking agent, and texture modifier in color cosmetics, sunscreens, and powders. It can improve coverage, reduce translucency, and add slip without dissolving into the formula.
What does Barium Sulfate do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is used as an opacifier, white pigment, bulking agent, and texture modifier in color cosmetics, sunscreens, and powders. It can improve coverage, reduce translucency, and add slip without dissolving into the formula.
Is Barium Sulfate clean?
This material is generally viewed as low-concern in clean beauty because it is highly insoluble and has low skin penetration. The main quality consideration is cosmetic-grade purification and testing for trace elemental impurities.
Is Barium Sulfate sustainable?
This ingredient is mineral-derived and typically obtained from mined ore, so it is not renewable or biodegradable in the usual organic-material sense. It is chemically stable and inert in the environment, with the main sustainability considerations tied to mining practices and responsible sourcing.
Is Barium Sulfate COSMOS-approved?
This ingredient is generally compatible with COSMOS-natural standards when it is mineral-derived, minimally processed, and meets purity requirements. From a Green Chemistry view, it scores well for stability and low reactivity, but less strongly on renewability because it comes from a finite mineral source.
How does Barium Sulfate work chemically?
This compound is an inorganic, highly insoluble salt with a dense crystalline structure, which explains its opacity, whiteness, and low bioavailability on skin. It is stable across typical cosmetic pH ranges and is commonly used in powders, foundations, and decorative products at levels that vary widely depending on the desired opacity and skin feel.
Last updated 2026-05-13