Silver is a naturally occurring metallic element and a specialty cosmetic ingredient used in selected personal-care and colour cosmetic applications. Its chemical symbol is Ag, atomic number is 47, and its CAS Number is 7440-22-4. Silver has an atomic weight of approximately 107.87 g/mol and is classified as a mineral-origin cosmetic ingredient by COSMILE Europe.
In cosmetics, Silver is distinct from Silver Citrate, Silver Chloride and Colloidal Silver. These materials have different chemical identities and should have separate specifications and regulatory assessments. Silver itself is particularly associated with metallic or silver-coloured cosmetic effects when used as the authorised colourant CI 77820.
Silver can also occur in cosmetic formulations as particulate or micron-sized material. Consequently, particle size, morphology, purity and surface characteristics can be important quality attributes when the ingredient is intended for a specialised cosmetic application.
Silver is a metallic element represented by Ag. It has an atomic number of 47 and an atomic weight of approximately 107.87. The CAS/EC identification used in the European Commission's current scientific assessment is CAS 7440-22-4 / EC 231-131-3.
The physical properties of a commercial Silver cosmetic ingredient can vary according to particle size and manufacturing process. Fine particulate Silver should therefore not automatically be treated as equivalent to bulk metallic Silver, colloidal Silver or nanosilver.
For raw-material quality control, elemental purity, Silver content, particle-size distribution and other relevant physical characteristics may be more meaningful than conventional organic-compound parameters. A conventional HPLC assay is not appropriate as a universal assay method for elemental Silver.
COSMILE Europe identifies SILVER as a mineral-origin cosmetic ingredient with deodorant and skin-conditioning functions. It describes Silver as being used mainly in micro-silver form and notes applications including deodorants and foot-care products.
Silver is also an authorised colourant in the European Union under CI 77820. The European Commission's SCCS documentation states that Silver is used as a colourant to provide a silver hue in cosmetics, including products such as eyeshadows, highlighters, nail polishes and body powders.
The functionality therefore depends strongly on the physical form and intended application. A Silver material supplied for colour purposes should not automatically be described as an antimicrobial or preservative ingredient.
Silver can be used or evaluated for selected cosmetic applications, including:
The European Commission specifically identifies Silver's colourant use as CI 77820 and documents its presence in makeup and nail products. COSMILE also identifies deodorant and skin-conditioning functions.
The appropriate grade should be selected according to the intended cosmetic application, particle characteristics and applicable regulatory requirements.
Silver requires careful formulation control because its behaviour depends on particle size, surface properties and the surrounding formulation environment. Light exposure, ionic interactions and compatibility with other ingredients may influence the appearance or stability of Silver-containing systems.
For particulate Silver, the particle-size range should be clearly documented. This is particularly important because regulatory assessments may apply to a defined particle-size range rather than to every form of Silver.
The current 2026 SCCS scientific advice specifically assessed micron-sized particulate Silver with particle diameters greater than 100 nm and less than 1 mm. The SCCS concluded that this defined material was considered safe at specified concentrations for several cosmetic categories, while noting that propellant-based spray products were not covered by that assessment.
Silver is a specialty mineral-origin cosmetic ingredient and raw material requiring appropriate technical documentation. Businesses sourcing Silver cosmetic ingredient in India may require defined elemental purity, particle-size information, physical characteristics and batch-specific quality documentation.
Relevant B2B searches include Silver cosmetic ingredient manufacturer in India, Silver supplier India, Silver manufacturing in India, Silver cosmetic raw material supplier, Silver personal care ingredient supplier and bulk Silver ingredient supply.
For commercial use, the exact grade and particle form should be matched to the intended cosmetic application and target-market regulations. Silver, Silver Citrate, Silver Chloride and Colloidal Silver should not be treated as interchangeable raw materials.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White or colourless crystals / white powder |