Ingredient decoder

Titanium dioxide: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Titanium Dioxide

Acne verdict Fine

Not a known pore-clogger

  • Comedogenic0 / 5
  • Irritancy0 / 5

What it does

Mineral sunscreen filter and white pigment.

  • Sunscreen
  • Opacifying
  • UV absorber
  • UV filter

Titanium dioxide in plain English

Titanium dioxide is a white mineral used two ways: as a mineral sunscreen filter that blocks UVB and some UVA, and as a white pigment that makes makeup opaque. It is gentle and rarely irritates, which makes it popular in sunscreens for sensitive skin. For acne-prone skin, daily sun protection can help dark marks left by breakouts fade.

Is titanium dioxide bad for acne?

Not based on the evidence we have. Titanium dioxide is not a known pore-clogger: it scored 0 out of 5 in Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear test of the raw ingredient. Our checker rates it as fine for acne-prone skin, so judge by how your own skin reacts.

Clean routine and still breaking out? The cause may be internal. See what is driving it

Also called

  • Titanium Dioxide
  • Ci 77891
  • Titanium white
  • TIO2
  • Nano titanium dioxide
  • Titanium dioxide (nano)

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Frequently asked questions

Is titanium dioxide comedogenic?

Titanium dioxide scored 0 out of 5 for comedogenicity in Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear study, where 0 means no clogging and 5 means severe. That is a low rating. The test used the raw ingredient, so a finished product may behave differently.

What does titanium dioxide do in skincare?

In short: mineral sunscreen filter and white pigment. In formulas it is used for opacifying, UV absorber and UV filter.

What else is titanium dioxide called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, titanium dioxide can also appear as Ci 77891, Titanium white, TIO2 or Nano titanium dioxide.

Sources