Kaolin ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a mineral absorbent and mattifying powder used to take up oil, add opacity, adjust texture, and give masks, cleansers, deodorants, and makeup a dry, smooth feel.
What does Kaolin do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a mineral absorbent and mattifying powder used to take up oil, add opacity, adjust texture, and give masks, cleansers, deodorants, and makeup a dry, smooth feel.
Is Kaolin clean?
It is generally well-tolerated and widely accepted in clean beauty standards as a simple mineral ingredient. The main quality checks are trace metal specifications, particle size, and dust control during manufacturing.
Is Kaolin sustainable?
This material is mined, so it is non-renewable, but it is abundant and usually processed through washing, purification, drying, and milling rather than intensive synthesis. It is inorganic and does not biodegrade, but it is not an organic persistence concern and is typically managed as an inert mineral solid.
Is Kaolin COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic standards when sourced and processed through allowed physical methods and when purity requirements are met. It aligns reasonably well with Green Chemistry through simple processing and low reactivity, with the main limitation being mined, non-renewable sourcing.
How does Kaolin work chemically?
This compound is a fine, layered aluminosilicate mineral with high surface area, platelet morphology, and strong oil and moisture adsorption. It is stable across normal cosmetic pH ranges, insoluble in water and oils, and is commonly used at low levels for slip or opacity and at much higher levels in rinse-off masks and powder formats.
Last updated 2026-05-13