Alumina

The Basics On Alumina

What is Alumina?

Aluminum oxide, which is used as an abrasive, a thickening agent, and an absorbent in cosmetics.

What are other names for Alumina?

ACTIVATED ALUMINA, ALUMINA, ALUMINA, ACTIVATED, ALUMINA, CALCINED, ALUMINA, TABULAR, ALUMINIUM OXIDE, ALUMINUM OXIDE, ALUMINUM OXIDE (AL2O3), ALUMINUM OXIDE; ALUMINUM OXIDE; DELTA ALUMINA; THETA ALUMINA, ALUMINUM SESQUIOXIDE, ALUMINUM TRIOXIDE, CALCINED ALUMINA, and TABULAR ALUMINA

What is Alumina used for?

In cosmetic and personal care products, it is used in cleansing products, lipsticks, blushers and other products. Alumina is used in cosmetic and personal care products as an abrasive , anti-caking agent, anti-bulking agent and as an absorbent .

How Alumina is classified

Texture Enhancer, Scrub Agents, Absorbent

Recommendations for using Alumina during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Limited data suggests no known risk

 

Alumina During Pregnancy

What we know about using Alumina while pregnant or breastfeeding

Limited information available.

When aluminum hydroxide (0, 66.5, 133, or 266 mg kg in distilled water) was administered by gavage on gestation days 6 to 15 to Swiss mice (n = 20), there were no effects attributed to the test substance. 104 There were no differences in maternal weights, feed consumption, appearance, or behavior. There were no differences in the number of total implants, resorptions, number of live or dead fetuses, fetal size parameters, or sex distribution observed at necropsy. There ‚Ä¢were no differences observed at gross external, soft tissue, and skeletal examinations. When aluminum hydroxide (384 mg/kg/d; n 18), aluminum citrate (1,064 mg/kg/d; n = 15), or aluminum hydroXide (384 mg/kg/d; n ‚Äî 19) plus citric acid (62 mg kg d) was orally administered to Sprague Dawley rats (during gestation day 6 to 15), there were no differences among the groups in pre- or postimplantation loss, number of live fetuses per litter, or sex ratio.105 Fetal body weight was reduced and skeletal variations (delayed ossification of occipital bone and sternebrae; absence of xiphoids) were increased in the aluminum hydroxide plus citric acid group. The absence of xiphoids was also observed in the aluminum citrate group. The dams exhibited decreased weight gain in the aluminum hydroxide plus citric acid group during treatment but recovered and caught up to the other groups posttreatment. There was increased aluminum in the livers, bones, and placentas of the dams in the aluminum citrate group; there were no differences in aluminum content in the kidneys and brains. Aluminum accumulation was not detected in whole fetuses of the treated mice compared with those in the control group (n ‚Äî 1 7), which ‘tvere administered water.

General safety info about Alumina from CIR

This is a safety assessment of alumina and aluminum hydroxide as used in cosmetics. Alumina functions as an abrasive, absorbent, anticaking agent, bulking agent, and opacifying agent. Aluminum hydroxide functions as a buffering agent, corrosion inhibitor, and pH adjuster. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluated the safe use of alumina in several medical devices and aluminum hydroxide in over-the-counter drugs, which included a review of human and animal safety data. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel considered the FDA evaluations as part of the basis for determining the safety of these ingredients as used in cosmetics. Alumina used in cosmetics is essentially the same as that used in medical devices. This safety assessment does not include metallic or elemental aluminum as a cosmetic ingredient. The CIR Expert Panel concluded that alumina and aluminum hydroxide are safe in the present practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment.

Use this, not that!

Products where you might find Alumina

goop GOOPGLOW Microderm Instant Glow Exfoliator; goop Mini GOOPGLOW Microderm Instant Glow Exfoliator; REN Clean Skincare Evercalm Overnight Recovery Balm