The ingredient, explained

Silica

Silica has published research relevant to cosmetic safety assessment.

AbrasiveAbsorbentAnticakingBulkingOpacifyingViscosity controlling

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Ingredient guide

What it is and what it does

Silicon dioxide

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.
Opacifying: Makes a product less transparent.
Viscosity controlling: Adjusts how thick or fluid a product is.

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 final assessment reviews dermal, ocular and inhalation toxicology and requires products using the assessed silica to be formulated to avoid irritation.

What this does not tell us

Only synthetic amorphous silica is covered. Generic INCI silica alone does not prove a product uses this preparation; crystalline or mined silica and alkyl-silylated derivatives are outside this report. It is a safety assessment, not skin efficacy evidence.

Sources for this summary. Published source ↗

Research review checked Oct 1, 2026

Selective exact-identity review of 3 supplied local candidates and the targeted primary-source search recorded below. Bounded review, not a systematic search.