The ingredient, explained

Talc

Talc has published research relevant to cosmetic safety assessment.

AbrasiveAbsorbentAnticakingBulkingOpacifyingSkin protecting

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Ingredient guide

What it is and what it does

Talc -Mg3H2-SiO3-4- -CI 77718-

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.
Skin protecting: A technical role associated with protecting skin from external factors.

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 report evaluates animal and clinical safety evidence for asbestos-free talc and advises against application where the epidermal barrier is missing or severely disrupted.

What this does not tell us

Historical assessment, restricted to asbestos-free material and described exposures. It is not a current cancer classification or regulatory statement, nor proof of skin benefits.

Sources for this summary. PubMed 26227892 ↗

Research review checked Oct 1, 2026

Selective exact-identity review of 1 supplied local candidates and the targeted primary-source search recorded below. Bounded review, not a systematic search.