Ingredient glossary / Texture and thickener
Montmorillonite (French green clay)
On the label: Montmorillonite · Texture and thickener
What it is
A fine clay that absorbs oil; the green kind gets its colour from iron and decomposed plant matter.
Texture and thickeners: Thickeners and film formers give a product its body and feel, from gums to silicones.
Wikidata: Smectite, phyllosilicate mineral. Q422131 →
In the research
91 PubMed papers mention it with skin, cosmetics or hair; the three most recent:
- Assessment of a feed additive consisting of montmorillonite-illite mixed layer clay mineral (1g557) for all animal species for the renewal of its authorisation (FIM Biotech GmbH) · EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority, 2026
- Assessment of the feed additive consisting of bentonite (dioctahedral montmorillonite) as an anticaking agent for all animal species and as a substance for reduction of the contami · EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority, 2026
- Amended Safety Assessment of Naturally-Sourced Clays as Used in Cosmetics · International journal of toxicology, 2026
A paper is a paper, not a verdict: titles are listed so you can read them, and a study on cells or mice says little about a cream on a face.
Products whose label lists it
1 on the siteMatched from the ingredient list the supplier printed; the position in the list (first or thirtieth) is on each product page.
Other texture and thickeners
Dew & Balm describes ingredients from the public record and makes no claim about what a product will do for you. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA. If a product causes a reaction, stop using it; a reaction that spreads or affects breathing is a call to a doctor or 911.