Inorganic suspension stabilizers play a crucial role in skincare emulsion systems, preventing solid particles from settling and stratifying, and maintaining the system's homogeneity and stability. Below are the current mainstream inorganic alternatives and their characteristics:

Common Types of Inorganic Suspension Stabilizers
**Lithium Magnesium Silicate (Laponite RD):** Synthetically produced lithium magnesium silicate gel, its main mineral component is lithium saponite, a trioctahedral layered silicate mineral.
It can form a highly transparent, high-viscosity colloid at low solid content, exhibiting excellent thixotropy and suspension properties.
It is widely used in cosmetics (creams and lotions), industrial coatings, pharmaceutical preparations, etc.

**Bentonite:** Prevents particle settling by forming a three-dimensional network structure through colloidal solutions. Sodium bentonite is used in water-based coatings, while lithium bentonite is suitable for alcohol-based coatings and high-temperature architectural coatings.

Used as a thickener and suspension stabilizer in cosmetics.
**Sodium Magnesium Lithium Silicate:** Similar to Laponite. RD Thickeners and Suspension Stabilizers: White powder, odorless, non-toxic, non-irritating, insoluble in water, oil, and ethanol. Swells upon immersion in water, forming a highly transparent, high-viscosity colloid at low solid content.

Barium-Cadmium-Zinc Stabilizers: Inorganic stabilizers with barium, cadmium, and zinc metal compounds as the main components. Primarily used in the processing and manufacturing of flexible products such as PVC films; some can be used in cosmetics.

Mechanism of Action:
Spatial Network Structure: Inorganic suspension stabilizers achieve particle suspension by forming a spatial network structure or increasing liquid viscosity. The crystalline structural unit of lithium magnesium silicate gel is a tiny sheet with a thickness measured in nanometers, forming a three-dimensional colloidal structure.

Mechanical Isolation: Inorganic solid powders are stabilized through mechanical isolation, acting like a "sieve" to prevent... Prevents collision and aggregation of monomer droplets larger than the "sieve" size.

Thixotropy: Lithium magnesium silicate aqueous dispersions exhibit the characteristic of gradually thickening and increasing viscosity upon standing, then thinning under shear force.

This thixotropy is crucial for the industrial production of daily chemical creams.
Application Characteristics and Advantages

Chemical Stability: Inorganic stabilizers possess good chemical stability and compatibility. They maintain stability within a pH range of 4-8 and exhibit outstanding resistance to temperature changes.

Transparency and Viscosity: Lithium magnesium silicate can form a highly transparent, high-viscosity colloid at low solid content. This has minimal impact on the transparency of cosmetics, making it suitable for products requiring a transparent texture.

Safety: Inorganic stabilizers are generally odorless, non-toxic, and non-irritating. Compared to some organic stabilizers, they are more suitable for... Suitable for sensitive and special skin types.
Latest Research Progress

Chitosan-Inorganic Composites:
Research on chitosan-based particles as Pickering emulsion stabilizers has received widespread attention.
This includes chitosan-inorganic composites, which possess cationic properties, cost-effectiveness, and biocompatibility.

Magnetic Antibacterial Technology: Utilizing nanoscale magnetic fields to stabilize active ingredients, replacing traditional preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Comparative experiments by the International Society for the Study of the Skin Barrier (ISPRA) show that formulations using this technology reduce transepidermal water loss by 41% compared to traditional products.

Synthetic Biology Applications: Baihong Group's patented probiotic-derived PDRN technology, based on the fundamental logic of synthetic biology—"mild, efficient, precise, and controllable"—achieves source control. Large-scale production with no biological pollution and stable capacity

Selection Recommendations
Product Type Considerations:
For emulsions requiring high transparency, prioritize lithium magnesium silicate or lithium sodium magnesium silicate.

For products requiring stronger suspension stability, consider a combination of bentonite and organic stabilizers.

Production Process Compatibility:
Lithium magnesium silicate exhibits thixotropy, making it suitable for production processes requiring shear-thinning properties.

Bentonite is more suitable for products requiring long-term stability.

Cost and Performance Balance:
Lithium magnesium silicate offers excellent performance but is more expensive.

Bentonite is less expensive but may require higher dosages. Inorganic suspension stabilizers play an irreplaceable role in skincare emulsion systems. With advancements in materials science, new inorganic stabilizers are constantly emerging, providing cosmetic formulators with more options.