Kaolinite ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is primarily used as an absorbent mineral powder, helping take up oil, reduce shine, add opacity, and improve the dry, soft feel of powders, masks, cleansers, and makeup.
What does Kaolinite do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is primarily used as an absorbent mineral powder, helping take up oil, reduce shine, add opacity, and improve the dry, soft feel of powders, masks, cleansers, and makeup.
Is Kaolinite clean?
From a clean beauty perspective, this ingredient is generally well tolerated and widely accepted, with low sensitization concern because it is insoluble and chemically inert on skin. Quality control matters for mineral impurities and fine airborne dust during manufacturing or loose-powder use.
Is Kaolinite sustainable?
This material is mined from natural mineral deposits, so it is nonrenewable, but it is abundant and requires relatively simple processing compared with many synthetic ingredients. It is not biodegradable in the organic sense, but it is environmentally persistent as an inert mineral rather than a bioaccumulative organic pollutant.
Is Kaolinite COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic when sourced and processed according to the standard’s rules for natural minerals. Its Green Chemistry profile is strongest on simple processing, low reactivity, and low aquatic bioaccumulation concern, with the main limitation being mineral extraction from finite deposits.
How does Kaolinite work chemically?
The molecule is a layered aluminosilicate mineral built from repeating silica and alumina sheets, which gives it high surface area, oil uptake, opacity, and a soft powder feel. It is insoluble, stable across typical cosmetic pH ranges, and commonly used from low single-digit levels in emulsions or color cosmetics to much higher levels in masks and pressed or loose powders.
Last updated 2026-05-13