Beauty products are often filled with ingredients that most of us probably dont recognize and cant even pronounce. While thats not inherently a bad thing, there is a rising emphasis on clean beauty and keeping an eye out for potentially dangerous chemicals like parabens and phthalates . And another ingredient in many makeup products thats been called into question is talc.

Last year, the HBO Max docuseries Not So Pretty explored the use of talc in cosmetics in its debut episode, Makeup, which looked at the compounds potential connection to cancer-causing asbestos, as well as other health concerns. The show prompted many TikTok users to post videos of themselves throwing out their talc-containing products.

If youre wondering whether you should be doing the same, the answer is: Its a little complicated.

It is a personal decision whether to use makeup products with talc or not, and consumers should weigh the potential risks and benefits based on their circumstances and preferences, Dr. Aanand Geria , a board-certified dermatologist based in New Jersey, told HuffPost.

But what exactly are those risks and benefits? Below, Geria and other experts break down the role of talc in makeup and the controversy about its safety.

First, what is talc?

Talc is a powdered substance made from naturally occurring minerals, including hydrous magnesium silicate, oxygen and hydrogen, said Dr. Melanie Palm, a board-certified dermatologist at Art of Skin MD in the San Diego area. Its often used in a range of personal care and makeup products, like dry shampoo, face powder, blush, eyeshadow and baby powder to absorb moisture or achieve a matte or opaque texture.

The word talc can refer to both the clay mineral talc and the soft white talcum powder made from that mineral. As noted, this powder is found in a variety of cosmetic products.

Talc is a naturally occurring mineral that is mined from the earth, specifically rock deposits, said Ron Robinson , a cosmetic chemist and founder of the skin care brand BeautyStat . It is known as one of the softest minerals and has been used for centuries as a lubricant.

What does talc do in makeup?

One of the reasons talc is such a common ingredient in cosmetics is that it is affordable and widely available, Geria said. It is added to these products because it helps absorb moisture and oil, giving them a smooth and silky texture.

He noted that talc is chemically inert, meaning it doesnt react with other ingredients in cosmetics, so its a stable and safe option in that regard. Its also odorless.

Talc helps add texture to certain products, said Dr. Karan Lal of Affiliated Dermatology in Scottsdale, Arizona. It also dilutes pigments when formulations are created for different skin shades. It helps absorb moisture and allows formulations to stay on the skin. It makes makeup products more spreadable. And lastly, its an affordable way of thickening certain products.

Talc offers a nice, soft feel and matte look, though not all makeup users are fans.

In creams and lotions, chemists use water as a filler, noted cosmetic chemist Ginger King . But when the product form cannot take water but powder, talc is often the choice. Still, some people find that it has a chalky finish and they may prefer other options that are less chalky.