Loess

INCI: LOESS

CAS Number
Not assigned (geological mineral sediment — aeolian silt/clay)
Function
Absorbent, bulking agent, skin conditioning
Safety Rating
GOOD

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status permitted
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes Permitted — not restricted under 21 CFR; similar to other mineral clays

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
adequate
Dermal Absorption
negligible
Sensitization
none

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

Source-dependent heavy metal contamination requires testing for As, Pb, Hg, Cd per ICH Q3D cosmetic limits; ensure crystalline silica content is below inhalation thresholds if used in powder products; widely used in Korean cosmetics and K-beauty masks.

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Concern Level: Moderate

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Loess safe in cosmetics?

Source-dependent heavy metal contamination requires testing for As, Pb, Hg, Cd per ICH Q3D cosmetic limits; ensure crystalline silica content is below inhalation thresholds if used in powder products; widely used in Korean cosmetics and K-beauty masks. The EU classifies Loess as "permitted". Safety rating: GOOD.

Is Loess allowed in the EU?

Loess EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Loess do in cosmetics?

Loess functions as: Absorbent, bulking agent, skin conditioning. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: Not assigned (geological mineral sediment — aeolian silt/clay).

What is the Margin of Safety for Loess?

adequate The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.

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