Good Cosmetic Ingredient

Quaternium-18 Bentonite

INCI: QUATERNIUM-18 BENTONITE

CAS Number
1340-69-8 / 68953-58-2 [^1_2]
Function
Dispersing agent (non-surfactant), Suspending agent, Viscosity controlling [^1_10][^1_2]
Safety Rating
GOOD

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status permitted
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes Permitted; CIR reviewed — safe as used (1982, reaffirmed 2020 after re-opening for inhalation data review) [^1_12][^1_2]

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

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
adequate
Dermal Absorption
negligible
Sensitization
low

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

Contains < 3% crystalline silica as impurity — inhalation was a concern prompting CIR re-opening in 2019, ultimately resolved as safe [^1_2]. Median particle size 28 µm (mostly non-respirable). Used in 200+ formulations including lip and eye products [^1_2].

⚠️
Concern Level: Low

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Quaternium-18 Bentonite safe in cosmetics?

Contains < 3% crystalline silica as impurity — inhalation was a concern prompting CIR re-opening in 2019, ultimately resolved as safe [^1_2]. Median particle size 28 µm (mostly non-respirable). Used in 200+ formulations including lip and eye products [^1_2]. The EU classifies Quaternium-18 Bentonite as "permitted". Safety rating: GOOD.

Is Quaternium-18 Bentonite allowed in the EU?

Quaternium-18 Bentonite EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Quaternium-18 Bentonite do in cosmetics?

Quaternium-18 Bentonite functions as: Dispersing agent (non-surfactant), Suspending agent, Viscosity controlling [^1_10][^1_2]. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 1340-69-8 / 68953-58-2 [^1_2].

What is the Margin of Safety for Quaternium-18 Bentonite?

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.

Compliance Tools

Check Quaternium-18 Bentonite compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

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Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
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Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
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Heavy Metal Limits
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