| What is it? |
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is the naturally occurring oxide of titanium. |
| Appearance |
Bright white powder |
| Texture |
A dry, dusty, relatively fine powder. |
| Scent |
Nothing remarkable, perhaps a bit dust-like |
| Solubility |
You can purchase both a water dispersible and an oil dispersible version, with the oil version being significantly more useful for most DIY applications (especially cosmetics). |
| Why do we use it in formulations? |
It brings wonderful opacity and brightness, and helps boost adhesion in cosmetics. |
| Do you need it? |
If you want to make cosmetics, absolutely. Zinc oxide will not do! |
| Refined or unrefined? |
You’ll want non-micronized oil dispersible titanium dioxide. |
| Strengths |
Its opacity, coverage, and adhesion are unrivalled. It’s very versatile in cosmetics. |
| Weaknesses |
It’s a bit difficult to blend into oil bases without pre-grinding it. |
| Alternatives & Substitutions |
None, in the vast majority of circumstances. If a soap recipe calls for a bit of titanium dioxide to whiten it you can probably get away with zinc oxide instead, but in any sort of cosmetic application, if titanium dioxide is what the recipe calls for, use titanium dioxide. |
| How to Work with It |
It’s a must-have in cosmetics, and great for making white soap. As with all fine powders, use a dust mask when working with it to avoid inhaling it. |
| Storage & Shelf Life |
Stored somewhere cool, dark, and dry, the shelf life of titanium dioxide is indefinite. |
| Tips, Tricks, and Quirks |
It’s a key ingredient in many sunscreens, but DO NOT make your own sunscreen! |
| Recommended starter amount |
100g (3.3oz) or less. If you’re just making makeup you could probably get away with half that—you’ll use more for soap. |
| Where to Buy it |
Buy it from an online DIY ingredient supplier or Amazon. |
