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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES Learn more About EWG VERIFIED®

Data: Good

Silica, Amorphous

  • Products with this ingredient are allowed for use in EWG VERIFIED but must meet use restrictions and warnings based on EWG review of company data.
  • This ingredient's score is higher if used in product forms that are inhalable (e.g., sprays, powders) because of respiratory concerns. The score is lower if used in product forms that have lower risk of inhalation (e.g., solids, liquids)
  • This ingredient's score is higher if used in products that may not meet industry safety guidelines or U.S. and international government requirements. The score will be lower if used in products that meet these safety guidelines and requirements.

IMAGE SOURCE: PubChem

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Other Concerns

Enhanced skin absorption, Use restrictions (low), Persistence and bioaccumulation (high), and Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)

SYNONYMS

● SILICA GEL, 30 MUM PARTICLE SIZE (AVERAGE), AVERAGE PORE DIAMETER 60 ??, SUITABLE FOR NORMAL-PHASE ADSORPTION-PARTITION CHROMATOGRAPHY
● DIATOMACEOUS EARTH, FLUX-CALCINED, FILTER AID, ACID WASHED, TREATED WITH SODIUM CARBONATE, FLUX CALCINED
● SILICON(IV) OXIDE, 40% IN WATER, COLLOIDAL DISPERSION, 0.02 MICRON PARTICLES, S.A. 200M 2/G
● SILICA GEL 60, WITH FLUORESCENT INDICATOR, 0.060-0.2MM (70-230 MESH), -70+230 MESH POWDER, S.A. 500-600M2/G
● SILICA GEL - TECHNICAL GRADE, 230-400 MESH PARTICLE SIZE, 40-63 |M PARTICLE SIZE, PORE SIZE 60+
● SILICON(IV) OXIDE, 40% IN WATER, COLLOIDAL DISPERSION, 0.02 MICRON PARTICLES
● 98253-25-9
● SILICON(IV) OXIDE, AMORPHOUS FUMED, SURFACE TREATED, S.A. 105-130M??/G, -325 MESH
● SILICON(IV) OXIDE, AMORPHOUS FUMED, SURFACE TREATED, S.A. 205-245M??/G, -325 MESH
● SILICON(IV) OXIDE, AMORPHOUS FUMED, SURFACE TREATED, S.A. 105-145M??/G, -325 MESH

Restricted

Restricted: EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient without adequate substantiation

Silica is the most common constituent of sand. Fine silica, typically used in industrial applications and inhaled by workers, is associated with a wide range of disorders, particularly affecting the lungs and respiratory system. In cosmetics for skin use, regular sand presents little, if any risk to people. In contrast, for products that might be inhaled (such as a facial powder), silica particles are finely ground down and may be associated with respiratory toxicity.

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • LOW_MODERATE
    Cancer
  • LOW
    Allergies & Immunotoxicity
  • LOW
    Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
  • LOW
    Use Restrictions

Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
  • DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

Expand content Collapse content
anti-aging46 products
around-eye cream167 products
toothpaste152 products
bronzer/highlighter1556 products
foundation4419 products
makeup primer318 products
setting powder/spray320 products
concealer1981 products
shampoo281 products
lip gloss1109 products
facial powder576 products
styling gel/lotion28 products
hair styling aid91 products
brow liner722 products
eye liner972 products
moisturizer91 products
eye shadow2919 products
exfoliant/scrub326 products
tooth whitening14 products
antiperspirant/deodorant443 products
bubble bath13 products
vapor rubs2 products
baby lotion6 products
diaper cream1 products
body oil44 products
facial cleanser76 products
muscle/joint soreness4 products
blush1355 products
sunless tanning31 products
nail polish2023 products
BB cream122 products
mascara486 products
oil controller9 products
facial moisturizer/treatment346 products
skin fading/lightener8 products
shaving cream (men's)5 products
tanning oil5 products
antiperspirant/deodorant (men's)128 products
body powder30 products
hand cream13 products
bath oil/salts/soak38 products
baby powder2 products
lipstick3345 products
polish remover5 products
foot moisturizer4 products
after shave11 products
lip liner395 products
hair relaxer1 products
hair treatment/serum54 products
serums & essences231 products
cuticle treatment2 products
hair color and bleaching108 products
hair-loss treatment13 products
hair spray31 products
Eye Shadow Primers4 products
nail treatment27 products
body art9 products
glitter78 products
Exfoliants6 products
Under Eye Concealers19 products
Blotting Paper1 products
lip balm301 products
body wash/cleanser31 products
toners/astringents13 products
pore strips41 products
makeup remover9 products
after sun product7 products
liquid hand soap23 products
depilatory26 products
depilatory (men's)1 products
Preshave Preparations1 products
body firming lotion18 products
daily use with SPF476 products
recreational sunscreen263 products
beard care7 products
mask165 products
Dry Shampoo and Hair Powders24 products
baby sunscreen35 products
lip balm with SPF31 products
foot odor control8 products
fragrance for women7 products
CC cream87 products
conditioner58 products
lip plumper168 products
Lip Stain6 products
bar soap9 products
shaving cream12 products
other eye makeup23 products
eyelash glue5 products
mouthwash7 products
fragrance for men5 products
foot cleansing7 products
nail glue14 products
styling mousse/foam3 products
damaged skin treatment3 products
Facial Sun Care29 products
Oils & Serums11 products
baby toothpaste19 products
hair removal waxes8 products
body spray4 products
beard oil3 products
Nail Art and Jewelry1 products
acne treatment4 products
Tanning Sprays1 products
Face Wipes1 products
Top Coats and Sealers5 products
exfoliant/scrub - large particle2 products
Hair Styling Gel2 products
Denture Care2 products
Basecoats and Undercoats1 products

Cancer

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not likely to be carcinogenic in humansInternational Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
Limited evidence of carcinogenicityCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Multiple, additive exposure sources

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in foodUS. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Data gaps

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported 'as used' concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in productCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Informational

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - anyCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmfulEnvironment Canada
Classified as a low human health priorityEnvironment Canada

Persistence and bioaccumulation

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be bioaccumulativeEnvironment Canada
Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife and humansUS. National Library of Medicine,
Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlifeUS. National Library of Medicine,

Ecotoxicology

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada

Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)

Expand content Collapse content
CONCERN REFERENCE
skin/eye/lung irritation - weight of evidence unknown/unassessedCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Use restrictions

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualificationsCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Determined safe for use when formulated to avoid irritation, in assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR)Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
  • International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
  • Environment Canada
  • US. National Library of Medicine,

Understanding scores

Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.


HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG Verified® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Score legend
WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE APPROACH

A product’s hazard score is not an average of the ingredients’ hazard scores. It is calculated using a weight-of-evidence approach that factors in all of the hazards or health impacts associated with the ingredients.

Data availability

The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.

NONE LIMITED FAIR GOOD ROBUST
Low Availability
Moderate Availability
High Availability
NONE

Ingredients have not been assessed.

LIMITED-FAIR

There is only a modest volume of research.

GOOD-ROBUST

Ingredients have been studied extensively.

Can’t find your product?

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