Editing Silicon dioxide (section)

===Food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical applications===
Silica, either colloidal, precipitated, or pyrogenic fumed, is a common additive in food production. It is used primarily as a flow or anti-[[caking]] agent in powdered foods such as spices and non-dairy coffee creamer, or powders to be formed into pharmaceutical tablets.<ref name=cabot/> It can [[adsorption|adsorb]] water in [[hygroscopy|hygroscopic]] applications. [[Colloidal silica]] is used as a [[fining agent]] for wine, beer, and juice, with the [[E number]] reference '''E551'''.<ref name=Ull/>

In cosmetics, silica is useful for its light-diffusing properties<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RIvOBQAAQBAJ&q=silica%20cosmetics%20light%20diffusing&pg=PA444|title=Handbook of Cosmetic Science and Technology|vauthors=Barel AO, Paye M, Maibach HI|publisher=CRC Press|year=2014|isbn=9781842145654|edition=4th|pages=444|quote=These soft-focus pigments, mainly composed of polymers, micas and talcs covered with rough or spherical particles of small diameters, such as silica or titanium dioxide, are used to optically reduce the appearance of wrinkles. These effects are obtained by optimizing outlines of wrinkles and reducing the difference of brightness due to diffuse reflection.}}</ref> and natural absorbency.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RIvOBQAAQBAJ&q=silica%20cosmetics%20light%20diffusing&pg=PA444|title=Handbook of Cosmetic Science and Technology|vauthors=Barel AO, Paye M, Maibach HI|publisher=CRC Press|year=2014|isbn=9781842145654|edition=4th|pages=442|quote=The silica is a multiporous ingredient, which absorbs the oil and sebum.}}</ref>

[[Diatomaceous earth]], a mined product, has been used in food and cosmetics for centuries.  It consists of the silica shells of microscopic [[diatoms]]; in a less processed form it was sold as [[Dentifrice#Tooth powder|tooth powder]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gardner |first=J. Starkie |date=1882 |title=On the Causes of Elevation and Subsidence |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0016756800172474/type/journal_article |journal=Geological Magazine |language=en |volume=9 |issue=10 |pages=479–480 |doi=10.1017/S0016756800172474 |bibcode=1882GeoM....9..479G |issn=0016-7568}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Mann |first=Albert |title=The Economic Importance of the Diatoms |publisher=Smithsonian |year=1917 |location=Washington DC, United States of America}}</ref> Manufactured or mined [[hydrated silica]] is used as the hard abrasive in [[toothpaste]].