Volcanic clay

Product Information

CosmySupplies supplies cosmetic grade Volcanic Ash (INCI: Volcanic Ash / Silica) in India, available in small and bulk quantities. A natural mineral powder processed to fine particle size for use in face masks, cleansing foams, exfoliating scrubs, and pore care formulations. Functions as an absorbent, abrasive, and bulking agent. COA available on request. Shipped from Bengaluru across India. Available at cosmysupplies.com.

INCI: Volcanic Ash / Silica  |  Origin: Mineral  |  Grade: Cosmetic

Functions: Absorbent | Abrasive | Bulking Agent | Skin Conditioning Agent

Used In: Face Masks | Cleansing Foams | Exfoliating Scrubs | Clay Masks | Pore Care Formulations | Men's Grooming | Body Powders | Rinse-Off Cleansers

Pore Purifying | Mineral Origin | Sebum Control | Vegan | K-Beauty Proven

Benefits

•        Functions as a confirmed absorbent, drawing excess sebum, surface impurities, and environmental pollutants from pore openings in both leave-on and rinse-off formulations.

•        Acts as a mild abrasive at its natural fine particle size, providing gentle physical exfoliation that removes the dead outer layers of the stratum corneum without aggressive micro-tearing.

•        Functions as a bulking agent in powder and clay mask bases, contributing structure and body to formulations without adding occlusive or comedogenic properties.

•        Delivers measurable pore-tightening effect in clay mask formats: clinical data from the supplier on a 10% clay mask showed pore size reductions of 17 to 39% across pore size categories compared to vehicle control.

•        Contributes a skin conditioning effect after rinsing, leaving skin surfaces feeling smooth and clean without the tight, stripped sensation associated with some high-clay formulas.

•        Insoluble in water, making it compatible with both aqueous and anhydrous systems and stable in suspension when combined with thickeners and gelling agents in emulsion formulas.

•        Mineral composition includes silica as a primary component alongside trace minerals, providing the fine, smooth particle texture that makes it suitable for facial application without coarseness.

•        Microbiological specification confirmed: total bacterial count not more than 100 cfu/mL and yeast and molds not more than 10 cfu/mL, confirming suitability for rinse-off and leave-on cosmetic applications.

Applications

Face Mask and Pore Care: Volcanic Ash is the primary active in face mask formulations targeting pore size, sebum control, and surface impurity removal. At 1 to 5% in a clay mask base alongside Kaolin and Bentonite, it contributes both absorbency and mild exfoliation. Its fine particle size allows uniform distribution in emulsion-based wash-off masks without clumping.

Cleansing Foam and Face Wash: In cleansing foam formulations, Volcanic Ash is used at lower concentrations as a supplementary absorbent and mild exfoliant within surfactant systems. The Innisfree Volcanic Pore BHA Cleansing Foam is the most widely recognised commercial reference for this application, establishing strong consumer familiarity with the ingredient in this format in India.

Exfoliating Scrub and Powder Cleanser: In exfoliating scrub formats, Volcanic Ash provides gentle physical exfoliation as a mild abrasive, suitable for oily, combination, and acne-prone skin types. Its 250 mesh fineness makes it coarser than kaolin but finer than walnut shell powder, positioning it as a mid-intensity exfoliant.

Men's Grooming and Body Powder: In men's grooming products, Volcanic Ash contributes both sebum absorption and a matte finish in face powders, toners, and wash-off products. Its association with K-beauty pore care also gives it ingredient storytelling value in men's product marketing aimed at an appearance-conscious, ingredient-aware consumer.

How to Use

For Face Masks and Clay Masks: Start with Volcanic Ash at 1 to 5% of your total formula, incorporated into the clay and mineral phase. The texture, absorbency, and skin feel of the finished mask will shift depending on which complementary clays you combine it with and the overall ratio of the clay blend to the aqueous phase.

For Cleansing Foams and Face Washes: Incorporate Volcanic Ash into the powder phase before adding to your surfactant base. At low concentrations within a surfactant system, the suspension stability and particle distribution depend on the viscosity of your base and the order of addition.

For Powder Cleansers and Exfoliating Scrubs: Volcanic Ash can form a significant portion of a dry powder cleanser blend. The mesh fineness of 250 minimum gives a finer particle feel than coarse mineral exfoliants. The ratio to other powders determines final grit level and skin feel at use.

Claims You Can Make

For your label and marketing:

Pore Purifying | Sebum Absorbing | Mineral Origin | Vegan | Cruelty Free | K-Beauty Proven | Deep Cleansing | Gentle Exfoliant

For your formulator brief:

Absorbent | Abrasive| Bulking Agent | Skin Conditioning Agent | CIR 2003 safety assessment of silicates confirmed safe as used | Silica CIR 2009 assessment confirms safe when formulated to be non-respirable.

For formulation ratios, batch guidance, and troubleshooting support, contact the CosmySupplies team directly. WhatsApp: wa.me/917975102363 | Email: info@cosmysupplies.com

Technical Information

Pairs Well With

Kaolin Clay provides a creamy, smooth base texture that softens the slightly coarser feel of Volcanic Ash in face mask formulations, making the blend suitable for a wider range of skin types including dry and sensitive. The ratio between the two minerals is the primary variable controlling the absorbency intensity and skin feel of the finished mask.

Bentonite Clay amplifies the deep-cleansing and pore-drawing effect of Volcanic Ash in clay mask formulations, creating a high-performance sebum extraction system suited to oily and acne-prone skin. The proportion of Bentonite to Volcanic Ash shifts significantly depending on whether you are targeting oily or combination skin.

Salicylic Acid paired with Volcanic Ash replicates the most commercially proven pore care combination in K-beauty, combining the physical absorbency of Volcanic Ash with the chemical exfoliation of a BHA to address both surface debris and pore-lining dead cell buildup. The concentration of Salicylic Acid in this combination is governed by CDSCO Rule 39 classification and requires regulatory review before use.

Niacinamide is a relevant pairing in toner and serum formulations where Volcanic Ash contributes mild pore minimising effect and Niacinamide supports barrier function and sebum regulation. The two ingredients serve complementary mechanisms and are frequently paired in K-beauty pore care formats. Their combined ratio in a water phase depends on your base viscosity and target skin type.

French Green Clay extends the mineral storytelling of Volcanic Ash-based face masks with a complementary colour and mineral profile, useful for formulators building a range across different skin types. The two clays pair well in targeting oily and combination skin but require separate testing because their combined absorption rate affects the application dry-down time and rinse-off experience.

Zinc PCA paired with Volcanic Ash in cleansing formulations provides a dual approach to sebum and odour management: Volcanic Ash absorbs physically while Zinc PCA regulates sebum production at the cellular level. This pairing is established in commercial cleansing foams and is a credible starting point for a K-beauty inspired pore foam formula.

Important Information

Note for this ingredient: Volcanic Ash is a fine mineral powder. Avoid inhalation during handling and formulation. Use appropriate dust management practices in production. Not suitable for use in aerosol or spray products without inhalation safety assessment. Do not use near eyes. CIR assessment notes that data are insufficient to determine safety for naturally-sourced mined silicate ingredients in products that may be incidentally inhaled. For external rinse-off and leave-on non-aerosol formulations, CIR confirms safe as used.