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Quaternium-90 Bentonite

What Quaternium-90 Bentonite is & what it does

Quaternium-90 Bentonite is the natural clay mineral bentonite that has been surface- modified with a quaternary ammonium compound. In skincare and sunscreen formulas it is used as a viscosity controller and suspending agent, helping thicken oily phases and keep pigments or particles evenly dispersed. This type of modified clay is especially useful for stabilizing anhydrous or oil-based products.

What does Quaternium-90 Bentonite do in skincare?

Quaternium-90 Bentonite is a surface-modified clay used as a viscosity controller and suspending agent. It thickens oily phases and keeps pigments or particles evenly dispersed, which is useful in oil-based or anhydrous products. This helps prevent separation and keeps the formula uniform.

Is Quaternium-90 Bentonite natural or synthetic?

Quaternium-90 Bentonite starts from bentonite, a natural clay mineral, that has been modified with a quaternary ammonium compound. Because of this surface treatment, it is best described as a nature-derived, modified mineral ingredient rather than a purely natural one. The base clay is natural, while the modification is done through processing.

Is Quaternium-90 Bentonite safe?

Quaternium-90 Bentonite is used as a thickener and suspending agent and is generally regarded as suitable for topical use at standard cosmetic levels. It mainly stays on the skin surface to perform its texture role. People with sensitive skin can patch test a new product before regular use.

Sunscreens with Quaternium-90 Bentonite

We rate 24 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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