[marymargaret]

chemicalmatt said:

This may sound weird but you might try rice starch as a bulking agent and whitening opacifier sub for TiO2. It is inexpensive, and absorbs oils so that may lead to further weirdness - or total success. 

Thank you, that sounds interesting! I’ll definitely try it!  

[marymargaret]

Thank you, everyone. I now understand these laws a little better. Regardless of that, if you do have any suggestions on TiO2 substitutes, I would love to hear them! If I stay under 25% I would still need to add other ingredients as fillers, and I would prefer to keep the formula as simple as possible

[marymargaret]

ketchito said:

@marymargaret Just one quick question, is this a new law that will enter into force anytime soon?

I believe you refer to TiO2 used as opacifier rather than a UV filter, right? I’m checking Cosing (european database for cosmetic ingredients), and what I found is that the only restrictions for its use is the purity criteria and the particle size (TiO2 nanoparticles shouldn’t be used in products that could lead to lung exposure by inhalation): https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.details_v2&id=97172, https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.details_v2&id=99289. 

I’m referring to the law that came into effect beginning of October this year - I believe it’s known as Omnibus III. It prevents using TiO2 with particle size ≤ 10 μm. Here’s the link: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32021R0850&from=EN

And yes, I’m primarily in need of an opacifier, so far nothing I tried seems to be working very well…

[marymargaret]

Bill_Toge said:

it depends how much you’re planning to make at any given time - a planetary mixer for industrial catering works well from a few hundred grams up to a few kilograms, while for larger quantities, a ribbon blender is the most efficient tool for the job

Thank you so much for your answer! I don’t think I will be making more than 1-2 kg at the time. Do you think that mixing the ingredients is enough? Or do I have to grind them as well? I’m sorry if it’s a basic question. I’m a makeup artist, so I know what I expect of a product in terms of performance, but I’m still figuring out how to get there. As I’ve mentioned, so far I’ve been grinding all my powders, so I’m just wondering whether mixing them instead would make a difference.

[marymargaret]

The reason I think it has to do more with adhesion is that the powder acts the same as one with titanium dioxide when applied and blended with a finger or a sponge. It also has nearly identical coverage. When applied with a brush, however, it doesn’t seem to stick to the skin and instead stays on a brush or creates fallout all around. I’ll mention that the ingredients I’ve been using come from a few different cosmetic ingredients companies and seem to have higher opacity than other kaolins or talcs I’ve tried.

[marymargaret]

I’ve tried many different formulas, but I’m always using some combination of these ingredients: kaolin, mica, magnesium stearate, sericite, talc, and diatomaceous earth. Kaolin, sericite, or talc usually act as the base. The other ingredients I add as needed to enhance performance or improve sensory aspects.