Disteardimonium Hectorite
Also known as: Ammonium Hectorite, Nonsurfactant Suspending Agent, Disteardimonium Hectorite
Overview
Disteardimonium Hectorite is a modified clay mineral, specifically a quaternary ammonium salt of hectorite, a naturally occurring smectite clay. It is not typically classified or used as a dietary supplement. Its primary application is in the cosmetic industry, where it functions as a rheological additive and suspending agent. This ingredient is valued for its ability to stabilize and suspend solid particles within liquid formulations, thereby improving the texture, consistency, and stability of cosmetic products such as foundations, mascaras, and lotions. It achieves this without exhibiting surfactant properties, making it a unique thickener and gelling agent. Research on Disteardimonium Hectorite predominantly focuses on its safety and efficacy within cosmetic formulations, with extensive safety assessments confirming its non-irritating nature in human patch tests.
Benefits
Disteardimonium Hectorite is not used as a dietary supplement, and therefore, there are no reported benefits in the context of human health or nutrition. Its benefits are exclusively related to its functional properties in cosmetic and personal care products. In these applications, it acts as an effective suspending agent, preventing the settling of pigments and other insoluble ingredients, which ensures product homogeneity and extends shelf life. It also contributes to the desired rheology (flow properties) of formulations, providing a smooth feel and improved spreadability. The evidence for these benefits is derived from its widespread use and performance in cosmetic formulations, rather than from clinical trials on human health outcomes.
How it works
Disteardimonium Hectorite functions primarily through its ability to form a thixotropic gel network within liquid formulations. As a modified clay, its particles possess a layered structure. When dispersed in a solvent, these layers can interact to create a three-dimensional network that traps and suspends other ingredients. This network provides viscosity and stability to the formulation. The 'how it works' mechanism is based on its physical properties as a rheological additive, rather than any biological or metabolic interaction within the human body, as it is not intended for internal consumption. Its efficacy in cosmetics stems from its capacity to build viscosity and suspend solids without relying on surfactant properties, which can sometimes cause irritation.
Side effects
Disteardimonium Hectorite is generally considered safe for its intended use in cosmetic products. Human patch tests at concentrations up to 15% have shown it to be non-irritating to the skin. There are no reported common, uncommon, or rare side effects when used topically in cosmetic formulations at typical concentrations. As it is not intended for ingestion, there are no known drug interactions or contraindications related to systemic effects. Special population considerations, such as use during pregnancy or in children, are not applicable given its topical cosmetic application. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded that it is safe for use in cosmetics, based on available animal and human data, indicating a low risk profile for dermal exposure.
Dosage
Disteardimonium Hectorite is not a dietary supplement and therefore has no recommended dosage for internal consumption. Its usage is limited to external cosmetic applications. In cosmetic formulations, its concentration varies depending on the desired rheological effect and the type of product, typically ranging from 0.5% to 5%. There are no minimum effective doses, optimal dosage ranges, or maximum safe doses defined for human ingestion. Timing considerations, form-specific recommendations, absorption factors, and required cofactors are not applicable, as it is not absorbed systemically and does not exert a biological effect in the body.
FAQs
Is Disteardimonium Hectorite safe to ingest?
No, Disteardimonium Hectorite is not intended for ingestion. It is an ingredient used in cosmetic products for its physical properties, not for nutritional or health benefits.
What is Disteardimonium Hectorite used for?
It is primarily used in cosmetics as a suspending agent and rheological additive. It helps to stabilize formulations, prevent particle settling, and improve the texture and consistency of products like foundations and lotions.
Does Disteardimonium Hectorite cause skin irritation?
Human patch tests have shown Disteardimonium Hectorite to be non-irritating to the skin at concentrations up to 15%, indicating a good safety profile for topical cosmetic use.
Is Disteardimonium Hectorite a natural ingredient?
It is derived from hectorite, a naturally occurring clay mineral, but it undergoes chemical modification with quaternary ammonium compounds, making it a semi-synthetic ingredient.
Research Sources
- https://www.cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/Hector032012FR.pdf – This is a final report by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel on the safety assessment of ammonium hectorites, including Disteardimonium Hectorite. The panel concluded that these ingredients are safe for use in cosmetics based on available animal and human data, particularly noting their non-irritating properties.
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24335966/ – This publication details the safety assessment of ammonium hectorites as used in cosmetics. It summarizes the findings of the CIR Expert Panel, confirming that Disteardimonium Hectorite is considered safe for cosmetic applications due to its low potential for irritation and sensitization.
- https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/42ce/667d159c37e4490bd88ceda4e80c8ed1b2c3.pdf – This source likely refers to a study or review that includes data on patch tests for Disteardimonium Hectorite. It supports the claim that the ingredient was found to be non-irritating in human patch tests at concentrations up to 15%, reinforcing its safety profile for topical use.