Al
Alumina
Alumina
A fine mineral powder that coats pigments and mineral UV filters — helps them spread evenly and improves texture.
What it does
Alumina is aluminum oxide, a fine mineral powder. It coats pigments and mineral sunscreen filters so they spread evenly, thickens or adds a soft slip, and improves texture.
The evidence, graded
expert consensusUS safety reviewers (2016) say products use alumina to scrub, absorb, keep powders from caking, add bulk and make a formula opaque. The FDA had reviewed alumina in medical devices, and the reviewers say the alumina in cosmetics is essentially the same. They judged it safe as used.Becker 2016 · International Journal of Toxicology ↗
Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.
Also known as
aluminum oxide
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