The ingredient, explained

Kaolin

A published expert assessment examines cosmetic-use safety.

AbrasiveAbsorbentAnticakingBulkingCosmetic colorantOpacifying

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Ingredient guide

What it is and what it does

Naturally occurring substances, kaolin -CI 77004-

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

Abrasive: Provides mechanical surface cleaning or polishing.
Absorbent: Takes up dispersed or dissolved material, including water or oils.
Anticaking: Keeps powder particles from clumping together.
Bulking: Changes a product's bulk density.
Cosmetic colorant: Adds colour to a product or the surface where it is applied.
Opacifying: Makes a product less transparent.

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

The 2026 assessment supports kaolin for the cosmetic uses and concentrations described.

What this does not tell us

This is a safety review, not a clinical study of pore appearance or acne. Other clays in the report have different inhalation-data limitations and cannot inherit the kaolin conclusion.

Sources for this summary. DOI 10.1177/10915818261455355 ↗

Research review checked Oct 1, 2026

Bounded targeted searches for the exact ingredient identity in primary research or final expert assessments, with selected-source verification. Not a systematic review.