Purified cotton fibres, used as an absorbent and bulking ingredient.
What it is
Cotton is, according to CosIng, the cleaned, purified and bleached fibres from the seed coat of various species of cotton, Gossypium. CosIng lists it as an absorbent, anti-caking, bulking, opacifying, slip-modifying and skin-conditioning ingredient.
Where it is used
Appears on the ingredient lists of a small number of products.
Limits of interpretation
The INCI list shows which ingredients are present, not how much of each. Above 1%, ingredients are listed in descending order of weight; below 1% the order is free.
The INCI name does not show the form or fineness of the fibres.
Functions
- Absorbent
- Taking up water- and/or oil-soluble (dissolved or finely dispersed) substances.
- Anticaking
- Preventing agglomeration of particulate solids into lumps or hard masses (cohesive cake), thus allowing free flow of particles.
- Bulking
- Non-reactive (chemically inert), solid ingredients that dilute other solids and/or increase the volume of cosmetic products.
- Opacifying
- Reducing transparency or translucency of cosmetics.
- Slip modifier
- Enhancing the flow properties of other ingredients without reacting chemically with them.
- Skin conditioning – miscellaneous
- Enhancing the appearance of dry and/or damaged skin by reducing flaking and restoring suppleness.
EU regulation
This ingredient is not listed in the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 in the CosIng data.