The ingredient, explained

Calcium Carbonate

A published expert safety assessment covers this exact ingredient.

AbrasiveBufferingBulkingOpacifyingOral care

Explore connections

Ingredient guide

What it is and what it does

Calcium carbonate. CI 77220

About this ingredient: EU CosIng ingredient registry (via Open Beauty Facts taxonomy) ↗

Abrasive: Provides mechanical surface cleaning or polishing.
Buffering: Helps resist changes in a formula's pH.
Bulking: Changes a product's bulk density.
Opacifying: Makes a product less transparent.
Oral care: Supports cosmetic functions in the mouth, such as cleaning or deodorising.

Function definitions: European Commission ingredient function definitions (SCCNFP/0299/00, pages 16 to 20) ↗

Registry functions describe possible formulation roles, not results for a finished product. A dictionary entry is not an approval or a safety assessment.

A closer look

What the research shows

Safety assessment

Panel supports described cosmetic-use safety when formulated to be non-irritating.

What this does not tell us

Group assessment/read-across, dated-use concentrations and formulation pH matter. No benefit claim; sodium carbonate is not one of the six assessed salts.

Sources for this summary. PubMed 35531773 ↗

Research review checked Oct 1, 2026

Bounded review of local candidates, exact-name indexed primary journal/PubMed safety and topical searches; not a systematic review.

Ingredient research is not proof that a product containing this ingredient works.