Aluminum salts
INCI: Aluminum Chlorohydrate, Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Gly, Potassium Alum, Aluminum Sesquichlorohydrate
Aluminum Salts in Cosmetics: Effects, Uses, and Safety
What Are Aluminum Salts?
Aluminum salts are inorganic compounds of the metal aluminum that are used in various cosmetic products. They are particularly well known as active ingredients in antiperspirants and deodorants, where they can reduce perspiration. Commonly used aluminum salts include aluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum-zirconium complexes, and potassium alum.
In cosmetics, aluminum salts are valued primarily for their astringent properties. This means that they can tighten the upper layers of the skin and thereby influence the activity of certain glands.
How do aluminum salts work?
The best-known cosmetic use of aluminum salts is in antiperspirants. There, the aluminum salts react with components of sweat to form temporary gel-like structures in the sweat gland ducts. This reduces sweat production. The effect is temporary and wears off as the skin naturally renews itself.
Unlike traditional deodorants, which mainly combat odor-causing bacteria or mask odors, antiperspirants act directly on sweat production. This allows them to effectively reduce both the amount of sweat and the formation of odor.
In which cosmetic products are aluminum salts used?
Aluminum salts are found in various cosmetic formulations, particularly in:
- Antiperspirants
- Deodorants with antiperspirant properties
- Toothpastes
- Lipsticks
- Makeup products
- Facial care products
- Hair care products
- Shaving and aftershave products
The concentrations used vary depending on the product category and are carefully evaluated as part of the European safety assessment.
Are aluminum salts safe in cosmetics?
Hardly any cosmetic ingredient has been discussed as intensively in recent years as aluminum salts. The focus has been on possible links to breast cancer or neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
However, scientific assessments by European authorities conclude that aluminum salts are considered safe when used as intended and at the approved concentrations. The European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has reviewed the available data on multiple occasions and updated its safety assessments in recent years. In doing so, safe maximum concentrations have been defined for numerous product categories.
The fatty acids they contain support the skin’s natural lipid barrier and help reduce moisture loss.
Based on current scientific knowledge, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) also considers health risks from the absorption of aluminum from antiperspirants through the skin to be unlikely.
Which aluminum salts are most commonly used?
Aluminum Chlorohydrate
Aluminum chlorohydrate is one of the most commonly used active ingredients in antiperspirants. It is highly effective against excessive sweating and is used in numerous products worldwide.
Aluminum-zirconium compounds
These combinations of active ingredients are considered particularly effective at reducing sweat production and are frequently used in high-performance antiperspirants.
Potassium alum
Potassium alum is frequently used in so-called crystal deodorants. Chemically, this is also an aluminum salt, which is why products containing alum are not considered aluminum-free.
Conclusion
Aluminum salts are among the most thoroughly studied active ingredients in modern cosmetics. Their primary function is to reduce perspiration by temporarily constricting the sweat gland openings. According to the latest scientific assessments by European authorities, aluminum salts are considered safe at the approved concentrations. They therefore continue to be found in numerous cosmetic products, particularly in antiperspirants and deodorants.