This article is intended for individuals who are concerned about toxins in cosmetics and have questions about the use of Titanium Dioxide in Pure Anada formulations.
At Pure Anada, our mission is to offer a safe and healthy alternative to conventional cosmetics. In an industry that lacks thorough regulation, it is the responsibility of each manufacturer to research and carefully select the ingredients they include in their products. Ultimately, consumers must determine their own personal standards for which ingredients they feel comfortable applying to their skin. We hope the following information helps alleviate concerns and answers any questions you may have regarding Titanium Dioxide in our formulations.
Titanium Dioxide: What You Should Know
Titanium Dioxide (TD) has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a Group 2B carcinogen, meaning it is "possibly carcinogenic to humans." This classification has understandably raised concerns among consumers who seek safe, clean ingredients in their cosmetics. As a natural beauty brand, we occasionally receive inquiries about the safety of TD in our products. Our goal is to study the available data thoroughly before eliminating any ingredient—especially when there is no conclusive evidence of harm.
A summary of the IARC’s findings can be found on the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety website - HERE. We encourage consumers to read this article, as well as our explanation below, to avoid falling prey to unnecessary fear-mongering in the media.
The Three Main Routes of Exposure
1. Inhalation
The primary concern identified by the IARC relates to individuals involved in the manufacturing of Titanium Dioxide, where inhalation of fine particles is a significant risk. This applies to cosmetic companies like ours, who handle the raw ingredient during production.
We take appropriate precautions—such as using ventilated areas and wearing protective masks—to minimize inhalation of airborne dust during blending. It's important to note that the volume of particles generated in manufacturing is far greater than what consumers would encounter during normal makeup application.
From the IARC monograph (Section 5.4):
"Respiratory effects observed among titanium dioxide-exposed workers include a decline in lung function, pleural disease with plaques and pleural thickening, and mild fibrotic changes. However, the workers in these studies were also exposed to asbestos and/or silica."
We believe that safe manufacturing practices are essential when working with any fine powders, including Titanium Dioxide.
2. Ingestion
Certain grades of Titanium Dioxide—like the one used in our products—are approved for use in food in both Canada and the United States.
From the IARC monograph (Section 5.4):
"A single clinical study of oral ingestion of fine titanium dioxide showed particle size-dependent absorption by the gastrointestinal tract and large interindividual variations in blood levels of titanium dioxide."
This means absorption is highly dependent on particle size. Nano-sized particles (less than 0.1 microns or 100 nanometers) are small enough to potentially enter the bloodstream. However, no definitive research has been conducted on the effects of these tiny particles in or on the body.
Pure Anada has never used nano-sized particles in our pigment blends. The Titanium Dioxide we use has a particle size of 3–4 microns. We specifically choose this size for two reasons:
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Safety – Larger particles are less likely to be absorbed into the body.
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Coverage – Smaller particles offer less opacity, making the product more translucent. That’s why nano-sized particles are more common in sunscreens, where a sheer finish is preferred.
In May 2022, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) banned Titanium Dioxide in food due to concerns that nano-sized particles might cause DNA or chromosomal damage. However, rather than regulating by particle size, the EFSA banned the ingredient entirely.
We respect this decision in the context of food—especially processed food. But for cosmetic products, which are not ingested and do not contain nano-sized particles, we believe this does not warrant concern.
3. Dermal Contact
This is the most relevant exposure for cosmetic users. As with ingestion, particle size plays a major role in how Titanium Dioxide behaves on the skin.
From the IARC Monograph:
"Studies on the application of sunscreens containing ultrafine Titanium Dioxide to healthy human skin revealed that particles only penetrate into the outermost layers of the stratum corneum, suggesting that healthy skin is an effective barrier. No studies on compromised skin were available."
In other words, even ultrafine particles do not penetrate into the bloodstream through healthy skin. Therefore, the IARC does not consider dermal contact a contributing factor in Titanium Dioxide’s carcinogenic classification.
This strongly suggests there is no reason to fear Titanium Dioxide in topical cosmetic formulations.
Why Do We Use Titanium Dioxide in Our Products?
Some may ask: “If it’s controversial, why not remove it?” The reality is: Titanium Dioxide is essential for effective makeup coverage. Without it, both powder and liquid formulas become sheer and lack the performance consumers expect.
Additional benefits include:
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Natural sun protection – It’s more effective at blocking UV rays than synthetic chemicals.
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Low risk of irritation – It is rarely associated with allergic reactions or skin sensitivity.
Why We Will Continue to Use Titanium Dioxide
At Pure Anada, we are committed to offering safe, healthy cosmetics for consumers, our families, and ourselves. Our decisions are based on scientific research, not marketing trends or public pressure. In fact, Titanium Dioxide is one of the most studied cosmetic ingredients. Many other ingredients on the market have little or no safety data behind them.
A "0" rating on the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Skin Deep Database doesn’t always mean a product is safe—it often means there’s no data at all. That, in our opinion, is a far greater concern. Titanium Dioxide receives a rating of 1–3 on EWG's scale, which is entirely reasonable for such a well-researched ingredient.
Sometimes ingredients are vilified by brands seeking to appear “cleaner” or “safer” than others. But this often lacks a foundation in science and doesn’t hold up over time.
In Conclusion
Each individual must decide what they feel comfortable using on their body. If, after reading this information, you still choose to avoid Titanium Dioxide, we completely respect your decision. We receive questions about nearly every ingredient we use—even though we uphold strict standards and practice full ingredient transparency. We understand that we cannot meet everyone’s expectations.
Thank you for taking the time to read and for staying informed.
