Silica

Silica, also called silicon dioxide, and Hydrated Silica are minerals. The only difference between the two ingredients is that Hydrated Silica is bound to water molecules. Both ingredients are used in a wide variety of cosmetics and personal care products.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reviewed the safety of Silica and permits its use as an anticaking agent and for other uses in food. Silica as silica aerogel is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for use in food as an anti-foaming agent. Silicon Dioxide is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for use in paper and paperboard coming into contact with food.Crystalline silica of respirable size (less than or equl to 10 micrometer) may cause lung inflammation or cancer when it is in air and enters the lungs. Crystalline silica is not used as a cosmetic ingredient.

Links to FDA Code of Federal Regulations for Silica (silicon dioxide)
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfCFR/CFRS...
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRS...
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfCFR/CFRS...

Silica and Hydrated Silica may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Directive of the European Union.
Link to the EU Cosmetics Directive: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/cosmetics/html/consolidated_d...

Last modified 23 months ago