Kaolin3 ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is primarily used as an absorbent, opacifier, bulking agent, and texture modifier in masks, powders, cleansers, and color cosmetics. It can also provide gentle polishing in rinse-off products.
What does Kaolin3 do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is primarily used as an absorbent, opacifier, bulking agent, and texture modifier in masks, powders, cleansers, and color cosmetics. It can also provide gentle polishing in rinse-off products.
Is Kaolin3 clean?
It is generally well-tolerated on skin and has little clean-standard friction when cosmetic-grade material is used. The main formulation concern is airborne dust in loose powders, which is managed through particle-size control and product format.
Is Kaolin3 sustainable?
This material is a naturally occurring mined mineral, so it is not renewable in the agricultural sense but is abundant and minimally transformed. It is inorganic and does not biodegrade like plant-derived organics, but it is environmentally inert and not associated with bioaccumulation.
Is Kaolin3 COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic frameworks as an allowed mineral ingredient, though it does not contribute organic content. Its Green Chemistry fit is strongest on low chemical processing and inertness, with weaker alignment on renewability and biodegradability.
How does Kaolin3 work chemically?
The molecule is a hydrated aluminum silicate mineral with a layered plate-like structure that gives it oil absorption, opacity, and slip. It is stable across typical cosmetic pH ranges and is often used from low single-digit levels in emulsions to much higher levels in masks, pressed powders, and loose powders.
Last updated 2026-05-13