Alumina

Alumina is a cosmetic ingredient used as an abrasive, absorbent agent. It appears in about 1% of cosmetic products in our 90,000+ product dataset. It is regulated in the EU (listed in a Cosmetics Regulation annex). PubMed carries 1,454 studies of its skin or topical use.

INCI nameALUMINA
FunctionABRASIVE, ABSORBENT, ANTICAKING, BULKING
CAS number1344-28-1
EC number215-691-6
Prevalence794 products (0.86% of dataset)
Most used inMakeup
EU statusRestricted (annex )
Scientific studies1,454 on PubMed (skin/cosmetic/topical)
Monthly searches6,600

Used in

Sunscreens 25.2%Foundations 9.1%Eyeshadows 7.2%Lipsticks 6.7%Setting Spray & Powders 5%Blushes 4.9%

Frequently asked

What does Alumina do in skincare?
Alumina functions as an abrasive, absorbent agent in cosmetic formulas.
Is Alumina allowed in cosmetics?
Yes, but it is regulated in the EU — it appears in a Cosmetics Regulation annex with usage conditions.
What products contain Alumina?
It is most commonly found in Makeup products, especially sunscreens (25.2% of its uses).

Manufacturers with experience using Alumina

Match with vetted US contract manufacturers that have hands-on experience formulating with this ingredient.