Perlite has a Natural Origin Index (NOI) of 1.00 (scale 0–1) per ISO 16128. Naturally occurring volcanic glass mineral, ground for use with no chemical modification. An NOI of 1.00 means 100% of its molecular mass is traceable to a natural, renewable source.

Is Perlite natural? NOI 1.00 — Is That Natural?

How we scored it

Inorganic aluminosilicate mineral, no organic carbon. 1.0.

What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

Where it comes from

Mined volcanic glass, expanded by heating and milled to size. No alternative synthetic route.

In plain English

A mineral from volcanic glass, ground into fine particles. Used as a gentle abrasive and bulking agent in scrubs and powders.

CosIng definition: Inert siliceous material consisting chiefly of silicon, aluminum, sodium and potassium oxides

Structure

hexaaluminum;dipotassium;disodium;(dioxosilane);undecakis(oxygen(2-));pentahydrate

PubChem CID 121596494 ↗

References

1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
2Perlite. PubChem CID 121596494. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
3PERLITE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
4PERLITE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PERLITE