Quartz ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is used as a mineral abrasive, exfoliant, bulking agent, and texture modifier in scrubs, powders, and color cosmetics. It can add slip, opacity, and a polished skin feel depending on particle size.
What does Quartz do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is used as a mineral abrasive, exfoliant, bulking agent, and texture modifier in scrubs, powders, and color cosmetics. It can add slip, opacity, and a polished skin feel depending on particle size.
Is Quartz clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it is generally acceptable because it is inert on skin and not a common sensitizer. The main caveat is inhalation exposure from respirable dust in loose powders or aerosols, so particle size and product format matter.
Is Quartz sustainable?
This material is mined from abundant mineral deposits, so sourcing is non-renewable and tied to land use, energy, and dust-control practices. It is not biodegradable because it is inorganic, but it is highly stable and not expected to bioaccumulate.
Is Quartz COSMOS-approved?
It is generally permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic when naturally sourced and processed by allowed physical methods such as crushing, washing, and milling. Its Green Chemistry fit is mixed, with simple processing and chemical stability, but non-renewable sourcing and no biodegradation pathway.
How does Quartz work chemically?
The molecule is a crystalline network of silicon and oxygen atoms arranged in a hard tetrahedral lattice, which explains its abrasive feel and high physical stability. Performance depends heavily on particle size and shape, with fine grades used for texture and larger controlled particles used for exfoliation, while inhalable fractions require careful formulation control.
Last updated 2026-05-13