What it is:
Talc (also known as French chalk) is powdered hydrous magnesium silicate which sometimes contains a small amount of aluminum silicate. It is a mineral, produced by the mining of talc rocks and then processed by crushing, drying and milling. This process eliminates a number of trace minerals from the talc, but does not separate minute fibers which are very similar to asbestos.
What it does:
Talc is used to help control shine and absorb oil and moisture making skin, feel soft, fresh and dry.
It is also used in some cosmetic products like toothpaste, soap and detergents as a filler.
Talc imparts stability, texture, water resistance and skin adhesion to cosmetics.
It also reduces friction that can irritate skin.
It acts as a perfume carrier in body talc due to its chemical structure.
Side effects:
Talc is a drying ingredient and can also cause breakouts and pores to clog for certain skin types.
Some people say that talc can cause cancer. The evidence that suggests talc can contribute to ovarian cancer is inconclusive. For more information, check out what The Beauty Brains wrote about the subject here.
There are also concerns that talc can cause lung cancer. To help prevent inhalation however, talc used in loose powder products in the USA is milled to a relatively large, non-respirable particle size (>5 µm).
