Silica
What is it?
Silica, also called silicone dioxide, and Hydrated Silica are minerals. The Silica used in cosmetics and personal care products is amorphous Silica. This means that the Silica has no definite form. Crystalline silica, which has a specific arrangement of the atoms, is not used in cosmetics and personal care products. Hydrated Silica has additional water atoms bound to Silica. Other silica compounds that may be used in cosmetic products include Alumina Magnesium Metasilicate, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Aluminum Iron Silicates and Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate. Silica and Hydrated Silica are used in a wide range of cosmetics and personal care products including bath products, eye makeup, hair care products, makeup, nail care products, oral hygiene products and skin care products.
Safety Information
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permits Silica to be directly added to food as an anticaking agent. It is also permitted as an indirect food additive as a component of filters and polyester resins. Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate (as sodium calcium aluminosilicate, hydrated) is considered Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) as anticaking agent in food.
The safety of Silica, Hydrated Silica, Alumina Magnesium Metasilicate, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Aluminum Iron Silicates and Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that these ingredients were safe as used in cosmetics and personal care products.
The CIR Expert Panel has also reviewed the safety of other silicate ingredient including Calcium Silicate, Potassium Silicate, Sodium Silicate and Zeolite. Please search this website for these ingredients for more information on their safety.
The safety of Silica, Hydrated Silica, Alumina Magnesium Metasilicate, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Aluminum Iron Silicates and Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that these ingredients were safe as used in cosmetics and personal care products.
The CIR Expert Panel has also reviewed the safety of other silicate ingredient including Calcium Silicate, Potassium Silicate, Sodium Silicate and Zeolite. Please search this website for these ingredients for more information on their safety.
Why is it used in cosmetics and personal care products?
The following functions have been reported for Silica and the related ingredients:
Abrasive – Silica, Hydrated Silica, Aluminum Iron Silicates
Absorbent – Silica, Hydrated Silica, Alumina Magnesium Metasilicate
Anticaking Agent – Silica, Hydrated Silica
Bulking Agent – Silica, Hydrated Silica, Alumina Magnesium Metasilicate, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Aluminum Iron Silicates, Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate
Opacifying Agent – Silica, Hydrated Silica
Oral Care Agent - Hydrated Silica
Skin Conditioning Agent – Miscellaneous - Hydrated Silica
Suspending Agent – Nonsurfactant – Silica
Viscosity Increasing Agent – Aqueous - Hydrated Silica
Viscosity Increasing Agent – Nonaqueous - Alumina Magnesium Metasilicate
Abrasive – Silica, Hydrated Silica, Aluminum Iron Silicates
Absorbent – Silica, Hydrated Silica, Alumina Magnesium Metasilicate
Anticaking Agent – Silica, Hydrated Silica
Bulking Agent – Silica, Hydrated Silica, Alumina Magnesium Metasilicate, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Aluminum Iron Silicates, Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate
Opacifying Agent – Silica, Hydrated Silica
Oral Care Agent - Hydrated Silica
Skin Conditioning Agent – Miscellaneous - Hydrated Silica
Suspending Agent – Nonsurfactant – Silica
Viscosity Increasing Agent – Aqueous - Hydrated Silica
Viscosity Increasing Agent – Nonaqueous - Alumina Magnesium Metasilicate
Scientific facts:
Silica is a compound composed of silicon and oxygen. The amorphous form is used in cosmetics and personal care products. Amorphous Silica includes fumed silica.
