Beauty & Personal Care / Solution Family

Sensory Modifiers

Powders, pigments, and a silicone elastomer that set slip, opacity, and finish u2014 boron nitride, silica, titanium dioxide, mica, and dimethicone crosspolymer u2014 for powders, foundations, and primers.

Overview

Sensory modifiers are powders, pigments, and elastomers added to set how anproduct applies and looks u2014 its slip, opacity, and finish u2014 rather than its bulknchemistry. They split into mineral fillers and pigments (boron nitride, silica,ntitanium dioxide, mica) and silicone elastomers (dimethicone crosspolymer). Use level isnusually a few percent in the powder or oil phase, so small changes in grade and particlensize shift the result.

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Boron nitride functions as a slip and soft-focus powder in pressed and loose products,ncommonly at 1 to 10%. Silica is an oil-absorbing filler for a matte finish. The trade-off isnthat the higher silica loadings that cut shine also reduce slip and can read as dry, sonformulators pair silica with boron nitride or an elastomer to restore glide. Specify boronnnitride where slip is the priority and silica where oil control is.

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Titanium dioxide is the standard white pigment and opacifier; mica is the workhorsenpearlescent for optical effect. Dimethicone crosspolymer is a silicone elastomer used fornsoft-focus optical blur and viscosity control in anhydrous and emulsion systems. Confirmnthe regulatory status of titanium dioxide for your application and jurisdiction, becausenpowder and inhalable uses face restrictions in some markets.

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Recommended Chemistries
23 materials
Amorphous Silica (Synthetic Amorphous Silica, Silicon Dioxide)
CAS 7631-86-9
Oil-absorbing filler (matte finish) Quick view
Boron Nitride (BN, hBN)
CAS 10043-11-5
Slip / soft-focus powder Quick view
Calcium Silicate
CAS 1344-95-2
Thickening / Rheology Quick view
Dimethicone (PDMS, Silicone oil, Dimethyl silicone)
CAS 9006-65-9
Conditioning Quick view
Dimethicone (Polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS)
CAS 9006-65-9
Lubrication Quick view
Fumed Silica (Pyrogenic Silica, Colloidal Silicon Dioxide)
CAS 112945-52-5
Thickening / Rheology Quick view
Hydrated Silica
CAS 10279-57-9
Thickening / Rheology Quick view
Kaolin (China Clay, White clay)
CAS 1332-58-7
Thickening / Rheology Quick view
Mica
CAS 12001-26-2
Pearlescent filler / optical-effect pigment Quick view
Silicone Oil 1,000 cSt (Dimethicone, PDMS)
CAS 9006-65-9
Defoaming Quick view
Silicone Oil 10 cSt (Dimethicone, PDMS)
CAS 9006-65-9
Emolliency Quick view
Silicone Oil 10,000 cSt (Dimethicone, PDMS)
CAS 9006-65-9
Lubrication Quick view
Silicone Oil 100 cSt (Dimethicone, PDMS)
CAS 9006-65-9
Slip / Release Quick view
Silicone Oil 100,000 cSt (Dimethicone, PDMS)
CAS 9006-65-9
Lubrication Quick view
Silicone Oil 12,500 cSt (Dimethicone, PDMS)
CAS 9006-65-9
Slip / Release Quick view
Silicone Oil 350 cSt (Dimethicone, PDMS)
CAS 9006-65-9
Slip / Release Quick view
Silicone Oil 5 cSt (Dimethicone, PDMS)
CAS 9006-65-9
Emolliency Quick view
Silicone Oil 50 cSt (Dimethicone, PDMS)
CAS 9006-65-9
Slip / Release Quick view
Silicone Oil 500,000 cSt (Dimethicone, PDMS)
CAS 9006-65-9
Lubrication Quick view
Silicone Oil 60,000 cSt (Dimethicone, PDMS)
CAS 9006-65-9
Slip / Release Quick view
Talc (Talcum)
CAS 14807-96-6
Thickening / Rheology Quick view
Titanium Dioxide (TiO2)
CAS 13463-67-7
White pigment and opacifier Quick view
Zinc Oxide (Zinc White)
CAS 1314-13-2
Biocidal Action Quick view
Where it's used
  • Pressed and loose face powders, foundations, and setting products (slip, soft-focus)
  • Matte and oil-control formulas (silica)
  • Opacity and whitening in color cosmetics and bases (titanium dioxide)
  • Pearlescent and optical effects in color cosmetics (mica)
  • Soft-focus line-blurring and texture in primers and anhydrous systems (silicone elastomer)
Frequently asked questions
What sensory modifiers does RawSource supply for personal care?
RawSource sources boron nitride (slip and soft-focus powder), silica (oil-absorbing matte filler), titanium dioxide (white pigment and opacifier), mica (pearlescent optical-effect pigment), and dimethicone crosspolymer (a silicone elastomer for feel and viscosity).
Which powder controls oil and which improves slip?
Silica absorbs oil for a matte finish; boron nitride delivers slip and soft-focus. Pairing them balances oil control against glide, since high silica loadings on their own can reduce slip.
Is titanium dioxide restricted?
Titanium dioxide faces use restrictions in some jurisdictions, particularly for powder and inhalable applications. State this factually and confirm regulatory status for your application and jurisdiction before specifying it.
Does RawSource supply these sensory modifiers in bulk?
Yes. RawSource supplies these powders, pigments, and the silicone elastomer in bulk with SDS, TDS, and COA. Submit the CAS and your grade or particle-size requirements for a bulk RFQ.
Disclaimer. Information on this page is provided for general reference and compiled from authoritative public sources (e.g. PubChem/ECHA). Values are typical and are not a guaranteed specification; the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the lot you purchase governs. Products are sold for industrial and professional use only. Nothing here is a medical, health, or efficacy claim. Always consult the current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before handling, and confirm regulatory status, classification, and suitability for your application and jurisdiction.
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