Is Titanium Dioxide Safe in Cosmetics?
Ever checked the ingredients label on your favorite cosmetics and wondered “What the heck are these ingredients?” It might even be why you purchase organic products – so you know what you’re using is safe. But even the most organic, natural products will occasionally use ingredients that might raise your suspicions. That’s why we’re doing a deep dive on one of these ingredients: titanium dioxide. Since it’s one we use in our own clean cosmetics, you deserve to know what it’s for and why we’re comfortable using it in our formulas.
You’ll find TiO₂ in nearly all makeup that has color – you can’t make most colorful makeup without TiO₂. In fact, the list of permitted colorants for cosmetics—especially those applied to the lips—is surprisingly short. Many seemingly ‘natural’ alternatives, such as fruit or vegetable pigments, are not approved for use in lip products due to safety and stability concerns. This means that even brands prioritizing clean beauty must rely on FDA-approved pigments like TiO₂ in their formulas.
It all comes down to breathing this stuff in. Studies have shown that TiO2 nanoparticles are more toxic, especially when inhaled. When mice experienced inhalation exposure of TiO2 nanoparticles, they developed inflammation and other negative health effects. TiO2 also won’t penetrate healthy skin. So, as long as you’re using products that aren’t breathable (like loose powders) and have titanium dioxide nanoparticles, TiO2 is perfectly safe.
As for our lip tints, while you probably won’t be inhaling them (you do you though), we still intentionally use TiO2 that has larger particles because no one should be exposed to its tinier, unsafe version. And since our lip lints only have a touch of color, you’re exposed to even less TiO2.
Want to read it for yourself? You can find their official opinions here. Note: this is a hefty document – what you’re looking for is the conclusion found on page 60.
So, is titanium dioxide safe? The answer is a resounding yes if the product uses TiO2 with larger particles. As for your favorite products that use TiO2, let out that breath you’ve been holding because you can go back to using them again.
For those who prefer to avoid TiO₂ entirely, our shades Nightfall and Intrigue are formulated without it, using only iron oxides as their colorant.
What Is Titanium Dioxide Used For?
Before diving into the safety aspects of titanium dioxide (TiO2), you probably want to know where it’s likely to be used. TiO2 serves many purposes in cosmetics since it’s opacifying and thickening. Many sunscreens use it as their active ingredient in preventing UV exposure. You might find it in loose powders or as a whitening agent. At Henné, we use it as a coloring agent in our Luxury Lip Tints.You’ll find TiO₂ in nearly all makeup that has color – you can’t make most colorful makeup without TiO₂. In fact, the list of permitted colorants for cosmetics—especially those applied to the lips—is surprisingly short. Many seemingly ‘natural’ alternatives, such as fruit or vegetable pigments, are not approved for use in lip products due to safety and stability concerns. This means that even brands prioritizing clean beauty must rely on FDA-approved pigments like TiO₂ in their formulas.
Cosmetics that use titanium dioxide:
- Sunscreens
- Loose or pressed powders
- Pigmented cosmetics
- Whitening products
Is Titanium Dioxide Safe?
Here’s the big question we’ve all been waiting for: is TiO2 safe? We founded Henné with safety at the forefront of our mission. We believe clean ingredients are the only ingredients that should be used in the products that go on our skin. Since we use TiO2 in our lip tints, we know it’s safe. But we get it if you still have some concerns – it’s your body and you deserve to know what exactly you’re putting on it. So, without further ado, let’s answer the big question once and for all, starting with understanding particle size and form.Titanium Dioxide Nano vs Non-nanoparticles
TiO2 comes in two forms: one with larger (non-nano) particles and one with nanoparticles. TiO2 is safe when it has larger particles. But why?It all comes down to breathing this stuff in. Studies have shown that TiO2 nanoparticles are more toxic, especially when inhaled. When mice experienced inhalation exposure of TiO2 nanoparticles, they developed inflammation and other negative health effects. TiO2 also won’t penetrate healthy skin. So, as long as you’re using products that aren’t breathable (like loose powders) and have titanium dioxide nanoparticles, TiO2 is perfectly safe.
As for our lip tints, while you probably won’t be inhaling them (you do you though), we still intentionally use TiO2 that has larger particles because no one should be exposed to its tinier, unsafe version. And since our lip lints only have a touch of color, you’re exposed to even less TiO2.
But Wait, What About the EU Ban?
It’s true. The EU has banned titanium dioxide. This comes with a gigantic BUT, though, because this ban only applies to loose powder concentrations over 25%. Remember how we said it all comes down to inhalation? That’s exactly what the EU is banning. So, yes, the EU has banned titanium dioxide but only the kind that impacts your health.Want to read it for yourself? You can find their official opinions here. Note: this is a hefty document – what you’re looking for is the conclusion found on page 60.
Quick Facts about TiO2
If you’re still feeling a little uncertain about TiO2, here are some quick facts to put your mind at ease:- TiO2 isn’t absorbed through the skin.
- The only concern arises from inhalation which typically isn’t an issue for cosmetics.
- The Environmental Worker’s Group gives it a rating of 1 which is the safest rating an ingredient can receive from them.
- Many colorants are banned in food, but TiO2 is approved as a food additive and used widely in different kinds of foods - which makes it one of the safer color options for manufacturers of cosmetics.
- Worried about the tiny amounts that you might ingest? Studies show that even for nanoparticles close to 100% get excreted (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7795714/).
- The FDA approves TiO2 as a colorant with no limitations.
So, is titanium dioxide safe? The answer is a resounding yes if the product uses TiO2 with larger particles. As for your favorite products that use TiO2, let out that breath you’ve been holding because you can go back to using them again.
There Are Many Unsafe Ingredients Out There – TiO2 Isn’t One
At the end of the day, we understand the concern about unusual-sounding ingredients. Rest assured, we would never use an ingredient in our products that we wouldn’t use on our own skin. Titanium dioxide gives our Luxury Lip Tints their color, bringing you that pop of color to your face without compromising your safety.For those who prefer to avoid TiO₂ entirely, our shades Nightfall and Intrigue are formulated without it, using only iron oxides as their colorant.
