A smectite clay mined in Morocco, used as an absorbent and bulking ingredient.
What it is
Moroccan lava clay is, according to CosIng, a smectite clay mined in Morocco; it is also known as rhassoul or ghassoul. CosIng lists it as an abrasive, absorbent, bulking, emulsion-stabilising, opacifying and viscosity-controlling ingredient.
Where it is used
Found in clay masks, cleansing products, soaps and hair washes.
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.
As a natural mineral, its composition can vary between deposits and batches.
Functions
- Abrasive
- Removing unwanted tissue or foreign materials from various body surfaces, including mechanical tooth cleaning and/or gloss improvement.
- Absorbent
- Taking up water- and/or oil-soluble (dissolved or finely dispersed) substances.
- Bulking
- Non-reactive (chemically inert), solid ingredients that dilute other solids and/or increase the volume of cosmetic products.
- Emulsion stabilising
- Helping the process of emulsification and improving emulsion stability and shelf-life.
- Opacifying
- Reducing transparency or translucency of cosmetics.
- Viscosity controlling
- Increasing or decreasing the viscosity (thickness) of cosmetics.
EU regulation
This ingredient is not listed in the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 in the CosIng data.