Ingredient dictionary

Aluminum Hydroxide

Aluminum Hydroxide is a white mineral powder that helps add coverage, opacity, and a smooth finish to cosmetic formulas. It is on the label of 57 products in our library. Checked against our library November 6, 2026.

What Aluminum Hydroxide does

Adds opacity and coverage to makeup
Serves as a base for some lake pigments
Helps coat mineral sunscreen particles

Aluminum hydroxide is an aluminum compound. It occurs naturally as the mineral gibbsite, and it is also manufactured for industrial use. In cosmetics, it appears as a fine white powder. It also serves as the base for some color pigments known as lakes.

Formulators use it for its white color, its ability to hide, and its stability. It barely dissolves in water, so it stays as tiny particles that scatter light and add opacity. On skin it feels smooth and light rather than heavy, which is why it turns up in concealers, eyeliners, and moisturizers. It can also help coat mineral particles in sunscreens.

Good for

Suits people who want good coverage and an even look from concealer, eyeliner, or tinted products.

Frequently asked questions

Is aluminum hydroxide safe for skin?

Aluminum hydroxide is generally well tolerated and widely used in cosmetics. It is poorly soluble, so it stays on the surface and in the formula rather than soaking in. People with very sensitive skin should still patch test any new product first.

Is aluminum hydroxide the same as the aluminum in antiperspirants?

Not really. Aluminum hydroxide is a white powder used for whiteness and coverage. Antiperspirant ingredients are different aluminum salts with other jobs. Reading the full label name helps tell them apart.