Obsidian ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is primarily used as a mineral abrasive or exfoliant, helping physically polish the skin in rinse-off scrubs and similar products. It can also contribute a dark visual effect in some formulas.
What does Obsidian do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is primarily used as a mineral abrasive or exfoliant, helping physically polish the skin in rinse-off scrubs and similar products. It can also contribute a dark visual effect in some formulas.
Is Obsidian clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this material is generally straightforward, with no common preservative, allergen, or restricted-list issue. The main tolerance question is physical, since coarse or angular particles can feel scratchy depending on particle size and product format.
Is Obsidian sustainable?
This material is naturally sourced from geologic deposits and requires mining, grinding, and sorting rather than petrochemical synthesis. It is inert and non-biodegradable, but it is not associated with bioaccumulation concerns in the way some synthetic persistent materials are.
Is Obsidian COSMOS-approved?
It is generally compatible with COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic standards when it is naturally sourced, purified, and processed only by allowed physical methods. Its Green Chemistry profile is favorable for simple processing and low chemical reactivity, with the caveat that it comes from nonrenewable mineral extraction.
How does Obsidian work chemically?
The molecule profile is dominated by an amorphous, silica-rich inorganic network with smaller amounts of metal oxides that influence color and hardness. In formulas, performance depends mainly on particle size, shape, and loading, and it is stable across typical cosmetic pH ranges because it does not dissolve or oxidize under normal product conditions.
Last updated 2026-05-13