Montmorillonoite ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is used as an absorbent, mattifying agent, and rheology modifier. It swells in water to help suspend particles and give masks, cleansers, and emulsions a thicker, more stable texture.
What does Montmorillonoite do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is used as an absorbent, mattifying agent, and rheology modifier. It swells in water to help suspend particles and give masks, cleansers, and emulsions a thicker, more stable texture.
Is Montmorillonoite clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it is generally well tolerated and is not a common allergen or restricted-list concern. Quality control matters because natural mineral powders can carry trace metals or microbial contamination if poorly refined.
Is Montmorillonoite sustainable?
This material is mined, so its footprint depends on extraction practices, land disturbance, and purification steps. It is not biodegradable in the organic-carbon sense, but it is an inert naturally occurring mineral and is not expected to bioaccumulate.
Is Montmorillonoite COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted under COSMOS-natural and may be used in COSMOS-organic formulas as an allowed non-organic mineral ingredient when sourcing and processing meet the standard. Its Green Chemistry profile is strongest on low reactivity and water-compatible processing, and weaker on renewability because it comes from mineral deposits.
How does Montmorillonoite work chemically?
This compound is a layered hydrated aluminosilicate with exchangeable cations, which lets it absorb water and form thixotropic dispersions. It is commonly used at low levels for viscosity and suspension, and at much higher levels in masks or absorbent powders, with performance affected by electrolyte level, dispersion energy, and hydration time.
Last updated 2026-05-13