Kaolin
Type of clay, China clay
Characteristics
- INCI
- Kaolin
- Ru.
- Type of clay, China clay
- CAS
-
1332-58-7
This is the substance number in the Chemical Abstracts Service registry. The CAS number uniquely identifies a substance regardless of language, trade name, or synonyms.
- EC
-
310-194-1
This is the substance number in the European chemical identification system (EC number), used in European regulatory databases including ECHA/CosIng.
- Functions
- abrasive, absorbent, anticaking, bulking, cosmetic colorant, opacifying
- Irritancy
-
0 / 5
Irritation potential: 0–5, where 5 is the highest irritation rating for the ingredient.
More detail → - Comedogen.
-
0 / 5
Comedogenicity index: 0–5. A non-comedogenic ingredient (0–1) is unlikely to cause cosmetic acne.
More detail → - EU Restr.
-
IV/119
EU regulatory status: restricted use. The ingredient is permitted in EU cosmetics but its use and labelling are regulated.
More detail →
Who it's for
Description
If your skin ever looks at a shiny T-zone and says, “I’ll take it from here,” kaolin is the clay that usually gets the job. This fine, naturally occurring white clay is a hydrated aluminum silicate, and in cosmetics it earns its place by being a gentler absorbent than the more drama-prone clays. It helps soak up excess oil, gives formulas a silky slip, and can make masks, cleansers, powders, and soaps feel pleasantly less greasy without turning your face into the Sahara.
For skin, the big appeal is simple: oil control without quite as much drying. Kaolin can help lift away surface sebum and the grime that likes to cling to it, which is why you’ll see it in the best kaolin clay face mask formulas, shine-control powders, and “clarifying” products for oily or combination skin. It’s also popular in products marketed as the best kaolin clay for skin because it tends to be more forgiving than stronger-absorbing clays. In a mask, it can leave skin looking less slick and a bit more refined, though it won’t magically erase acne or replace the need for actual actives. Science is fun, but it does like boundaries.
Kaolin also turns up in soap and hair products for very practical reasons. In cold process soap, it can improve slip, help the bar feel creamier, and contribute a smoother glide during molding and cutting; in small amounts it’s also used to give a harder, more opaque bar. In hair care, kaolin clay for hair is mainly about absorbing oil at the scalp and adding a little volume, not about nourishing the lengths with some mystical clay powers. As for the “best kaolin” or “best kaolin clay powder” search rabbit hole, that usually means looking for a fine, cosmetic-grade powder with no unnecessary extras. If you’re wondering how to use kaolin clay for face, start with a thin layer mixed with water or a gentle hydrosol, let it sit only briefly, and rinse before it dries into a cracked desert panorama. For skin, hair, or soap, less is often more with this humble little powder.
More detail
Kaolin is a type of clay or to be precise, a naturally occurring hydrous aluminum silicate. When you hear clay, you probably think of a muddy greenish-black mess, but that one is bentonite, and this one is a fine, white powder. It is so white that it's also often used, in small amounts, as a helper ingredient to give opacity and whiteness to the cosmetic formulas.
As a clay, it's absorbent and can suck up excess sebum and gunk from your skin, but less so than the more aggressive bentonite. As it's less absorbent, it's also less drying and gentler on the skin, so it's ideal for dry and sensitive skin types.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kaolin
What does kaolin do in skincare products?
Is kaolin clay good for oily or acne-prone skin?
How do you use kaolin clay on your face?
What are the benefits of kaolin clay in soap?
Is kaolin safe for hair care products?
Products with Kaolin (4 794 total)
Most often found in innisfree products (49 items)
