Talc

Talc suppliers and sourcing guide

Talc is a soft mineral, a hydrated magnesium silicate, mined from deposits in several countries. The ore is crushed, sorted, often beneficiated by flotation to remove other minerals, and milled or micronized to a fine powder. Because some talc deposits sit near asbestos-bearing rock, cosmetic and pharmaceutical grades come from selected deposits and are tested for asbestos. Brands buy cosmetic or USP grade talc for pressed and loose powders, eye shadows and dry shampoos, and as a tablet glidant.

See suppliers What to ask for on the COA

Category: Cosmetic bases, emollients and surfactants
Also known as: Talcum · Hydrous magnesium silicate · French chalk · CAS 14807-96-6
Facts checked: November 2026

Forms and grades of talc

Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.

Cosmetic grade
Talc from selected mines, milled for slip and whiteness and sold with asbestos test results for each lot.
USP / EP pharmaceutical grade
Talc tested to the compendial monograph, used in tablets, capsules and natural health products.
Micronized grades
Talc milled to a fine, stated particle size for smooth pressed powders and loose powders.
Surface-treated talc
Talc coated with silicones, amino acids or other agents for water resistance or pressing; the coating is declared as a separate ingredient.

What to check on the COA

Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.

Identity: X-ray diffraction or infrared identity for talc.
Asbestos: Test for asbestiform minerals by X-ray diffraction with polarized light microscopy or transmission electron microscopy; the method and detection limit should be on the certificate.
Heavy metals: Lead and arsenic, often with cadmium and mercury, by ICP-MS against the USP, color additive or supplier limit.
Acid-soluble substances and loss on ignition: Compendial limits that flag carbonate and other mineral impurities.
Particle size and whiteness: Laser particle size or sieve residue, and brightness against a reference.
Microbiology: Total aerobic count, yeast and mold, and absence of specified organisms such as E. coli, Salmonella, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Mined minerals pick up soil organisms, and some suppliers heat treat or otherwise reduce the count; the COA should say which.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Store talc sealed in a dry place and handle it with dust control and respiratory protection, since fine mineral dust is an inhalation hazard. It is chemically stable and does not degrade. Shelf life follows the supplier's specification, usually with a microbiology retest for older stock.

Lots and expiry dates

Keep each lot's asbestos test report with the lot record, along with the mine source, whiteness and metals results. If a supplier changes mine or mill, treat it as a new material and requalify it.

Regulatory status

Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.

21 CFR 73.1550 lists talc, a finely powdered native hydrous magnesium silicate, as a color additive for drugs that is exempt from certification, with a lead limit of not more than 20 parts per million.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)
Health Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist lists talc as restricted, including that it is not permitted in products intended solely for use in the genital area of those who have ovaries.
Source: canada.ca (opens in a new tab)
Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database states that talc should not exceed 51% in loose powders that may be used for diapering and 77% in other loose powders for the face or body.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)
FDA's MoCRA page lists a December 2024 proposed rule on testing methods for detecting and identifying asbestos in talc-containing cosmetic products, and its withdrawal in November 2025.
Source: fda.gov (opens in a new tab)

This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.

Talc suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking talc suppliers now

Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.

Sell talc? Request a listing

Frequently asked questions

What forms of talc can brands buy?

Common forms include cosmetic grade, uSP / EP pharmaceutical grade, micronized grades and surface-treated talc. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for talc include?

Expect identity, asbestos, heavy metals, acid-soluble substances and loss on ignition, particle size and whiteness and microbiology, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should talc be stored?

What is the regulatory status of talc?

21 CFR 73.1550 lists talc, a finely powdered native hydrous magnesium silicate, as a color additive for drugs that is exempt from certification, with a lead limit of not more than 20 parts per million. Health Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist lists talc as restricted, including that it is not permitted in products intended solely for use in the genital area of those who have ovaries. Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database states that talc should not exceed 51% in loose powders that may be used for diapering and 77% in other loose powders for the face or body. FDA's MoCRA page lists a December 2024 proposed rule on testing methods for detecting and identifying asbestos in talc-containing cosmetic products, and its withdrawal in November 2025.

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