Absorbent | Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary

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Rating	Ingredient
Average	bismuth oxychloride Also known as synthetic pearl, it’s the primary ingredient included in most powders that are referred to as... Categories: Texture Enhancer, Absorbent
Good	boron nitride A synthetic compound that adds slip, enhances texture, and can also thicken certain formulas. Categories: Absorbent
Good	calcium carbonate Chalk; used as an absorbent in cosmetics. Categories: Absorbent
Good	alumina Aluminum oxide, which is used as an abrasive, a thickening agent, and an absorbent in cosmetics. Categories: Texture Enhancer, Scrub Agents, Absorbent
Good	Aluminum hydroxide A synthetic ingredient that functions as an opacifying agent. Secondary uses... Categories: Texture Enhancer, Absorbent
Good	aluminum magnesium silicate Salt that has absorbent properties. Categories: Absorbent
Good	aluminum silicate Salt that has absorbent and abrasive properties. Categories: Absorbent, Scrub Agents
Good	aluminum starch octenylsuccinate A synthetic powdery thickening agent, absorbent, and anti-caking agent used in skin care and makeup products. Categories: Texture Enhancer, Absorbent
Poor	aluminum sulfate It can sensitizing to skin. Categories: Absorbent, Antioxidants
Poor	ammonium chloride Alkaline salt used as a pH balancer in skincare products; it is not used in concentrations that... Categories: Absorbent
Good	bentonite Type of clay that is used as an absorbent in cosmetics. It can be drying for skin, though its... Categories: Absorbent
Good	carnauba wax Natural, hard wax obtained from the leaves of palm trees. Used primarily as a thickening agent, but... Categories: Plant Extracts, Absorbent, Texture Enhancer
Good	charcoal Primarily carbon substance formed by charring organic material in absence of oxygen. One... Categories: Absorbent
Good	China clay Categories: Absorbent
Good	clay Categories: Absorbent
Good	Copernicia cerifera wax Primarily used as a thickening agent, but also has film-forming and absorbent properties. Can be used to impart glossy shine. Categories: Plant Extracts, Texture Enhancer, Absorbent
Good	cornstarch Starch obtained from corn and sometimes used as an absorbent in cosmetics instead of talc. Categories: Plant Extracts, Absorbent
Good	fuller's earth Mineral substance that is similar to kaolin (a clay). Composed mainly of alumina, silica, iron... Categories: Thickeners/Emulsifiers, Absorbent
Good	kaolin Natural, highly absorbent clay that also helps to thicken cosmetics, modify product slip, add opacity, and prevent makeup and skin care formulas from caking. Also known as China clay. Categories: Absorbent
Good	hydrolyzed corn starch A natural absorbent derived from corn starch. It helps enhance the soft afterfeel of a skin care product. Categories: Absorbent
Average	iron powder Iron powder is, as the name states, a powdered versoin of the mineral iron. A natural ingredient, it's used as an opacifying agent in cosmetics. Categories: Absorbent
Good	lithium magnesium sodium silicate Synthetic silica-based clay composed of lithium, sodium, and magnesium. Used as a thickening agent... Categories: Thickeners/Emulsifiers, Texture Enhancer, Absorbent
Good	magnesium Earth mineral that has strong absorbent properties and some disinfecting properties… Categories: Absorbent
Good	magnesium carbonate Inorganic mineral salt used as an absorbent, opacifying agent, coloring agent, or to adjust the pH... Categories: Absorbent
Good	magnesium hydroxide Active ingredient in milk of magnesia. It is an absorbent and has disinfectant properties for skin. Categories: Absorbent, Miscellaneous
Good	montmorillonite A type of clay that is a mix of bentonite and fuller's earth, with the latter being a white to brown substance found in sediment... Categories: Absorbent
Good	nylon-12 A polyamide (protein-like polymer) derived from an omega fatty acid. The final ingredient is synthetic, and works in cosmetics as a thickener, opacifier, and offers some mild absorption properties. This ingredient’s size is too large to penetrate past skin’s surface. Categories: Texture Enhancer, Absorbent
Good	potassium Important element in diet that is present in such fruits as bananas and citrus. It is also an earth... Categories: Plant Extracts, Absorbent
Good	sodium polyacrylate A synthetic polymer with multiple functions, including film-forming agent, stabilizer, absorbent,... Categories: Thickeners/Emulsifiers, Film-Forming/Holding Agents, Emollients, Absorbent
Good	rice starch Absorbent substance sometimes included in products rather than talc.... Categories: Plant Extracts, Absorbent
Good	silica Mineral found abundantly in sandstone, clay, and granite, as well as in parts of plants and... Categories: Thickeners/Emulsifiers, Absorbent
Good	silicate Inorganic salt that has potent absorbing and thickening properties. Categories: Thickeners/Emulsifiers, Absorbent
Good	silk powder Synthetically derived powder used as an absorbent and slip agent. Categories: Absorbent, Slip Agents
Good	silt A sediment obtained from various bodies of water. Silt’s absorbent nature helps it function to... Categories: Absorbent
Poor	sodium carbonate Absorbent salt used in cosmetics; it can also be a skin sensitizer. Categories: Absorbent, Sensitizing
Good	charcoal powder Primarily carbon substance formed by charring organic material in absence of oxygen... Categories: Absorbent
Good	maltodextrin A plant-based sugar created by hydrolyzing a saccharide with starch from corn, potato, or rice. Categories: Thickeners, Film-Forming Agents, Absorbent
Good	sodium polyacrylate starch Sodium polyacrylate starch is a mixture of a natural starch combined with a synthetic acrylate polymer. Categories: Absorbent, Thickeners/Emulsifiers, Texture Enhancer
Good	illite Illite is a mineral-sourced natural thickener that is sometimes referred to as French green clay. Categories: Thickeners, Absorbent

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Paula Begoun is the best-selling author of 20 books about skincare and makeup. She is known worldwide as The Cosmetics Cop and creator of Paula’s Choice Skincare. Paula’s expertise has led to hundreds of appearances on national and international radio, print, and television including:

The Paula's Choice Research Team is dedicated to busting beauty myths and providing expert advice that solves your skincare frustrations so you can have the best skin of your life!

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