Ingredient dictionary

Naturally occurring mineral used as a thickener, absorbent, and abrasive in skin care products. Also known as aluminum oxide.

Salt that has absorbent properties.

Salt that has absorbent and abrasive properties.

It can sensitising to skin.

This powder derived from fossilized tree resin is used as a bulking agent and a physical exfoliant in skin care products.

Type of clay that is most famously used as an absorbent in oil-reducing face masks. Also functions as a thickener, emulsion stabiliser, and opacifying agent in cosmetic formulations.

A synthetic compound that adds slip, enhances texture, and can also thicken certain formulas.

Chalk; used as an absorbent in cosmetics.

Primarily carbon substance formed by charring organic material in absence of oxygen.

Primarily carbon substance formed by charring organic material in absence of oxygen.

Natural, highly absorbent clay that also helps to thicken cosmetics, modify product slip, add opacity, and prevent makeup and skin care formulas from caking.

Natural, highly absorbent ingredient that also helps to thicken cosmetics, modify product slip, add opacity, and prevent makeup and skin care formulas from caking.

Starch obtained from corn and sometimes used as an absorbent in cosmetics instead of talc.

Mineral substance that is similar to kaolin (a clay).

This type of bandage helps lessen the duration of whitehead pimples.

Modified version of corn starch that delivers humectant (hydrating) properties. May also be used to adjust the opacity, viscosity & cohesiveness of the formula.

Illite is a mineral-sourced natural thickener that is sometimes referred to as French green clay.

Kaolin is a clay mineral known for its absorbent properties, particularly popular in facial masks aimed at reducing skin’s oil. Learn more at Paula’s Choice.

Earth mineral that has strong absorbent properties and some disinfecting properties.

Active ingredient in milk of magnesia. It is an absorbent and has disinfectant properties for skin.

This versatile plant-based sugar is used as an absorbent, stabilizer, film-forming agent, and skin softener in cosmetics

Versatile ingredient that can be used as a texture-enhancing ingredient, film former, and/or absorbent in cosmetic formulations. May also be used as “microspheres” to gently release potent active ingredients into skin.

Plays a variety of roles in cosmetic formulations including as an absorbent, emulsion stabiliser, slip modifier, scrub ingredient and viscosity-increasing agent. Can be “upcycled” as a by-product of agricultural industries or created synthetically.

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.

Absorbent substance; sometimes used in high amounts in powders meant for those with very oily skin.

A sediment obtained from various bodies of water. Silt's absorbent nature helps it function to absorb excess surface oil.

This synthetic polymer is used as an absorbent in cosmetics.

Absorbent salt used in cosmetics; it can also be a skin sensitizer.

This synthetic silicate functions as an absorbent, opacifier, and thickening agent in cosmetics.

Sodium polyacrylate starch is a mixture of a natural starch combined with a synthetic acrylate polymer.

Naturally occurring mineral composed of magnesium, hydrogen, oxygen, and silicon which combine to form what's known as anhydrous (contains no water) magnesium silicate.

Starch obtained from corn that can be formulated to serve a variety of roles, including working as an absorbent, viscosity increaser, film-forming agent, skin protectant or abrasive agent.