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Silica (cosmetic)

Silica (cosmetic) suppliers and sourcing guide

Cosmetic silica is synthetic amorphous silicon dioxide, made either by burning silicon tetrachloride in a hydrogen-oxygen flame (fumed or pyrogenic silica) or by precipitating it from sodium silicate solution and drying it into porous particles or spheres. In cosmetics it is used as an oil-absorbing powder, a thickener for oils and gels, a flow aid in pressed and loose powders, and a texture agent in makeup. Brands usually buy it as a fine white powder in a named particle size and surface area.

See suppliersWhat to ask for on the COA
Also known as
Silica · Silicon dioxide · Amorphous silica · Fumed silica · CAS 7631-86-9
Facts checked
November 2026

Forms and grades of silica (cosmetic)

Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.

  • Fumed (pyrogenic) silica

    Very low bulk density powder with high surface area, used to thicken oils, gels and anhydrous balms and to keep powders free-flowing.

  • Spherical silica

    Porous or solid silica microspheres in a stated mean size, used in face powders, primers and foundations for slip and oil absorption.

  • Porous precipitated silica

    Irregular particles with high oil absorption, used in mattifying powders and as a carrier for liquid ingredients.

  • Surface-treated grades

    Silica coated with silicones or other agents to make it water-repellent; these are sold under separate INCI names such as silica dimethyl silylate.

  • Food and pharma grades

    Silicon dioxide made to food-chemical or pharmacopeial specifications, useful when the same powder also goes into supplements.

What to check on the COA

Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.

Identity and assay
Identification tests and silicon dioxide content, typically by gravimetric loss after hydrofluoric acid treatment as in pharmacopeial methods.
Loss on drying and ignition
Moisture by loss on drying and bound water by loss on ignition, which differ a lot between fumed and precipitated grades.
Particle size and surface area
Particle size by laser diffraction and specific surface area by BET nitrogen adsorption; these set texture and thickening behavior.
Oil absorption and pH
Oil absorption value and pH of an aqueous slurry, which show how much oil the powder takes up and how it behaves in a formula.
Heavy metals
Lead, arsenic and other metals by ICP-MS or ICP-OES against the supplier specification.
Microbiology
Total aerobic count, yeast and mold, and absence of specified pathogens for cosmetic grades.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Keep silica sealed in its original multiwall bag or drum in a dry area, because it picks up moisture from the air and very light grades can lose their flow and texture. Avoid dusty open handling and use local extraction when weighing fumed grades. Shelf life and retest dates follow the supplier's specification.

Lots and expiry dates

Record particle size, surface area and oil absorption for each lot, since these drive texture and viscosity more than assay does. Keep a retained sample when switching suppliers or grades, because two powders with the same INCI name can behave very differently.

Regulatory status

Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.

This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.

Silica (cosmetic) suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking silica (cosmetic) suppliers now

Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.

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Frequently asked questions

What forms of silica (cosmetic) can brands buy?

Common forms include fumed (pyrogenic) silica, spherical silica, porous precipitated silica, surface-treated grades and food and pharma grades. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for silica (cosmetic) include?

Expect identity and assay, loss on drying and ignition, particle size and surface area, oil absorption and pH, heavy metals and microbiology, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should silica (cosmetic) be stored?

Keep silica sealed in its original multiwall bag or drum in a dry area, because it picks up moisture from the air and very light grades can lose their flow and texture. Avoid dusty open handling and use local extraction when weighing fumed grades. Shelf life and retest dates follow the supplier's specification.

What is the regulatory status of silica (cosmetic)?

21 CFR 172.480 permits silicon dioxide as a food additive used as an anticaking agent, made by vapor phase hydrolysis or by other means giving the needed particle size. Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists silicon dioxide (CAS 7631-86-9), with silica as a common name, as an approved ingredient. The same database entry lists non-medicinal purposes including absorbent, opacifying agent, thickening agent and viscosity increasing agent. 7 CFR 205.605 allows silicon dioxide in organic processing as a defoamer, and for other uses when organic rice hulls are not commercially available.

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