Titanium Dioxide ~ Ingredients in makeup

Be Warned~ This is going to be a wordy post.

As the cosmetic industry reached another age of evolution and enhanced technology, it also means that women these days can look forward to a beautiful flawless skin. Effort or Effortlessly through dolling up.

However, few have stopped to think about the effects these technology will impact on our skin and on our health.

Natural beauty is no longer the 'IN' thing and even if it is, it's probably a very far stretched goal for many. So, the next option to beauty is using cosmetics. Cosmetics that contains chemicals to enhance our features, to beautify our face. However, long term and heavy usage of these chemicals can be deadly. (Though there hasn't been any scientific proves that cosmetics can "kill" a person or detoriates one's health)

Titanium Dioxide is one of the active ingredients in most cosmetics these days. It can even be found in sunscreens, products that suppose to protect us from the harmful UV rays.

I came to learn about the effects of titanium dioxide while I was researching on bismuth oxychloride, another ingredients which will cause underlying clog pores for some.

*Image of powdered titanium dioxide extracted from diytrade.com

Titanium dioxide on its own active form is toxic, so does inhaling of titanium dioxide. Like I mentioned earlier, its has not proven to be deadly for use in major cosmetics. It's rumoured to say that titanium dioxide on prolong usage can cause skin cancer.

So what is titanium dioxide?

*Extract from Wikipedia -

Titanium dioxide, also known as titanium(IV) oxide or titania, is the naturally occurring oxide of titanium, chemical formula TiO₂. When used as a pigment, it is called titanium white, Pigment White 6, or CI 77891. Generally it comes in two different forms, rutile and anatase. It has a wide range of applications, from paint to sunscreen to food colouring. When used as a food colouring, it has E number E171.

Ok, I know. It is a little too scientific. However, here is another extract from wikipedia:

Sunscreen and UV absorber
In cosmetic and skin care products, titanium dioxide is used as a pigment, sunscreen and a thickener. It is also used as a tattoo pigment and in styptic pencils. Titanium dioxide is produced in varying particle sizes, oil and water dispersible, and with varying coatings for the cosmetic industry. This pigment is used extensively in plastics and other applications for its UV resistant properties where it acts as a UV absorber, efficiently transforming destructive UV light energy into heat.
Titanium dioxide is found in almost every sunscreen with a physical blocker because of its high refractive index, its strong UV light absorbing capabilities and its resistance to discolouration under ultraviolet light. This advantage enhances its stability and ability to protect the skin from ultraviolet light. Sunscreens designed for infants or people with sensitive skin are often based on titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide, as these mineral UV blockers are believed to cause less skin irritation than other UV absorbing chemicals. The titanium dioxide particles used in sunscreens have to be coated with silica or alumina, because titanium dioxide creates radicals in the photocatalytic reaction. These radicals are carcinogenic, and could damage the skin.

Ideally, titanium dioxide do not cause any major health issues. It is the nano particles of titanium dioxide that may cause some issues. In order to have the extra fine powder with a luminous glowing effect on the skin, there is a possiblity that nano particles are used. Since it's not a mandatory standards to list the ingredients as nano particles, it will simply be listed as titantium dioxide. (As researched from various sources)

I have also heard that the top 5 ingredients listed in a package is usually the top 5 active ingredients but it is present in all cosmetics and sunscreens. (Almost all cosmetics products) #shake heads

So for all the health conscious people out there, this may be a consideration factor for you.

Still, we are unable to live without sun screen and a lot more beauty factors so vanity totally outweighs health. Oh well, just part and parcel of life. Don't you think?

Disclaimer: This is merely what I cajoned from the various sources I read from the net. It might or might not be true base on scientific research. Any interested party, can read further at wikipedia. Just google "Titanium Dioxide" for a list of happy reading.*