Safety panel clears common cosmetic clays, flags inhalation gap
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Cohen DE, Klaassen CD
Soil Health
If you use powder makeup, dry shampoo, or clay masks, this review explains why regulators consider the clay in them safe on skin but still can't rule out risks from breathing in loose powder.
Scientists looked at eight natural clays, including kaolin, that companies mix into makeup, masks, and powders to soak up oil and add bulk. They found all of them safe to use on skin at normal amounts. The one gap: nobody has enough data yet to say they're safe if you accidentally inhale the fine powder.
Key Findings
The panel assessed 8 naturally-sourced clay ingredients used in cosmetics, 6 of which had been reviewed previously.
Kaolin was found safe in cosmetics at current use levels and concentrations without qualification.
The other 7 clays are safe for typical use but lack sufficient data to confirm safety in products that could be accidentally inhaled.
chevron_right Technical Summary
A cosmetic safety panel reviewed 8 natural clay ingredients (like kaolin) used as absorbents in makeup and skincare, and found them safe for typical use, though there isn't enough data yet to confirm safety if the powders are accidentally inhaled.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Amended Safety Assessment of Naturally-Sourced Clays as Used in Cosmetics.
The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Safety (Panel) assessed the safety of 8 naturally-sourced clay ingredients, of which 6 were previously reviewed, as used in cosmetic formulations. All of these ingredi...
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
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