Kaolin
TYPE OF INGREDIENT
Exfoliant, pigment
COMMONLY FOUND IN
Masks, peels, powders
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF KAOLIN ?
Kaolin has very high absorption, making it ideal for masks and peels. As a clay product, it has been reported to draw out metals and impurities, thus implicating it as an exfoliant.
WHAT IS KAOLIN ?
Kaolin is a clay-based mineral used as a white cosmetic pigment. It has skin-soothing and oil absorbing properties, and has been shown to have very high absorption of minerals, making it an ideal product for masks and peels.
IS KAOLIN SAFE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES AND TONES?
Kaolin is likely safe for all skin types and tones based on available data. Previous data has shown that a kaolin diet in rats was associated with maternal anemia, but this data has not been shown in humans.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
There is minimal data on contraindications for the topical application of products containing kaolin.
Sources:
Elmore AR; Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. Final report on the safety assessment of aluminum silicate, calcium silicate, magnesium aluminum silicate, magnesium silicate, magnesium trisilicate, sodium magnesium silicate, zirconium silicate, attapulgite, bentonite, Fuller’s earth, hectorite, kaolin, lithium magnesium silicate, lithium magnesium sodium silicate, montmorillonite, pyrophyllite, and zeolite. Int J Toxicol. 2003;22 Suppl 1:37-102.
Juch RD, Rufli T, Surber C. Pastes: what do they contain? How do they work?. Dermatology. 1994;189(4):373-377. doi:10.1159/000246882
Kawanishi M, Yoneda R, Totsuka Y, Yagi T. Genotoxicity of micro- and nano-particles of kaolin in human primary dermal keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Genes Environ. 2020;42:16. Published 2020 Apr 16. doi:10.1186/s41021-020-00155-1
Naturals and Organics in Cosmetics: From R&D to the Marketplace. Allured Publishing Corporation. 445-452 (2007)
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Shine Control Clay Mask
