Tourmaline is a naturally occurring crystalline boron silicate mineral added to skincare and cosmetics, often used as a physical exfoliant or as a marketing-driven ingredient claimed to emit far-infrared radiation and negative ions. Robust clinical evidence supporting its functional skin benefits is limited.
| Reported effect | How often | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Mechanical irritation or microabrasion | Uncommon | Possible when used as a gritty physical exfoliant, particularly on sensitive or compromised skin. |
Allergic contact dermatitis | Rare | Isolated reports; mineral itself is generally considered low-allergenicity. |
Eye or mucous membrane irritation | Rare | From loose powder particles during application. |
Frequencies reflect typical cosmetic use reported in the literature, not a guarantee for your skin.
Peer-reviewed papers on this ingredient, via PubMed.