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 Synthetic, inorganic powder, which in cosmetics has absorbent properties similar to those of... 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 Powdery thickening agent, absorbent, and anticaking agent used in cosmetics. 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 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 Naturally occurring clay mineral (silicate of aluminum) that is used in cosmetics for its absorbent... Categories: Absorbent
Good	hydrolyzed corn starch A form of the natural absorbent corn starch that has been hydrolyzed, which means it has undergone... 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 Powder substance that is used as an absorbent and texture enhancer... 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

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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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