Titanium Dioxide
In the world of cosmetics, we encounter a variety of ingredients – one of them is titanium dioxide. But what exactly is titanium dioxide and why is it currently such a hotly debated topic in the cosmetics industry? We answer these and other questions for you and introduce our toothpaste without titanium dioxide in this context.
What is titanium dioxide?
Titanium dioxide (chemical: TiO2), also known as Titanium Dioxide, is a naturally occurring white mineral in powder form that can color products white or brighten them, thus providing coverage. For this reason, the micropigment is also called titanium white. Millions of tons of this substance are produced worldwide each year, with more than one million tons produced in Europe. About 90% of titanium dioxide is used as a white pigment for the production of (printing) inks, plastics, paints, and paper, while the remaining 10% is used, among other things, in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
Titanium dioxide: Where is it found?
Until its EU-wide ban as a food additive in August 2022, titanium dioxide was used as the food additive E171 in a variety of foods such as sweets (e.g., marshmallows, chocolate lentils, chewing gum), cheese (e.g., mozzarella), light sauces (e.g., salad dressing, mayonnaise), baking ingredients (e.g., fondant, baking decorations), and also dietary supplements. The use of titanium dioxide in the chemical industry and in pharmaceuticals is still permitted – the industry uses the substance as a white pigment PW6 – for example in oil paints, varnishes, plastics, and also paper. Titanium dioxide is also used in medications, where it serves, among other things, as a protective coating on tablets.
In cosmetic products such as toothpaste or lip gloss, titanium dioxide (CI 77891) is used as a white pigment. It can also be found in lipsticks or foundations and concealers, where it provides good coverage and can conceal irregularities in the skin, such as redness or pigmentation spots. In sunscreens, it can be used as a mineral UV filter.
How can I recognize titanium dioxide in toothpaste and other cosmetic products?
On ingredient lists of cosmetic products, it can be found as CI 77891 or Titanium Dioxide. The abbreviation CI stands for Colour Index.
Current Developments: The Ban on Titanium Dioxide as a Food Additive
Recently, the debate about titanium dioxide has intensified, especially since it was banned as a food additive in the EU from August 2022. Until that time, titanium dioxide was used in various foods such as mozzarella or marshmallows to give them a white color or shine.
The reason for the titanium dioxide ban was an assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which concluded that titanium dioxide as additive E171 in foods can no longer be considered safe because a possible genotoxic effect could not be ruled out when it enters the body through food – that is, when eaten.
Is titanium dioxide harmful in toothpaste?
The EFSA assessment relates to the risks of titanium dioxide used as a food additive, but not to other uses. Titanium dioxide may still be used in cosmetics, as current knowledge indicates it is not absorbed through the skin. For cosmetics that might be accidentally ingested – such as toothpaste or lip gloss and lipsticks – the use of titanium dioxide (CI 77891) is currently considered safe by experts. Since it is still unclear whether the substance known as food additive E171 and titanium dioxide in cosmetics (CI 77891) are the same, a direct transfer of the EFSA assessment to cosmetic products is not possible.
Functions of titanium dioxide in toothpaste
Although titanium dioxide is still allowed in cosmetic products, current developments show that many consumers want titanium dioxide-free alternatives. Therefore, we are actively working to find suitable substitutes that meet our quality standards. For example, our toothpastes without titanium dioxide or our sun protection lotion.
Titanium dioxide is used in toothpaste for two reasons:
- As a whitening agent: Titanium dioxide is a highly effective white pigment that gives toothpaste a bright white color.
- As an abrasive particle: It removes plaque and stains.
Instead of titanium dioxide, our toothpastes use the substitutes sodium bicarbonate, kaolin, chalk (calcium carbonate), or silicic acid (hydrated silica).
Toothpaste without titanium dioxide
Although titanium dioxide in toothpaste cannot currently be classified as harmful to health based on current knowledge, it is understandable that consumers may want to avoid this substance as a precaution. Recent developments in both brick-and-mortar and online retail show that the demand from many consumers for toothpaste without titanium dioxide is increasingly being met. More and more oral care products without titanium dioxide are being offered. We at lavera also consciously avoid titanium dioxide in our new toothpaste formulations to take possible concerns of our customers into account.
Summary
Titanium dioxide is a white micropigment that colors products white and can be used in the industry and cosmetics sector. In the form of the additive E171, it was also used in food for a long time until it was banned EU-wide in 2022. Since then, titanium dioxide may no longer be added to food because E171 could no longer be classified as safe. In cosmetics, titanium dioxide in the form of the substance CI 77891 may still be used. Experts currently consider the use of titanium dioxide there to be harmless. On the one hand, current research findings indicate that it cannot be absorbed through the skin. Furthermore, it is not yet possible to make a statement about the extent to which the results for titanium dioxide as a food additive (E171) can be transferred to titanium dioxide in cosmetics (CI 77891). It is currently unclear whether and to what extent these two substances are identical.
