Silicone—a derivative of Silicia—is one of the most common additives in foundation, makeup primers, concealers, and blurring products because it helps to absorb excess oil, smooth out imperfections, fill in fine lines and enlarged pores and disguise texture, just to name a few key benefits. It basically functions as a silky-soft barrier that sits on the surface of the skin creating a super even canvas that allows your foundation and other complexion products to glide on like a dream, avoid creasing and seeping into divets in the skin and extend the wear time by a few hours or so. It sounds like a cosmetic dream come true, right? Well, not exactly.
While silicones can make the skin look absolutely flawless and help our base makeup function, apply and wear better, the ingredient does come with its fair share of notable downsides. For some people, silicone can be a pore-clogging ingredient, leading to blackheads and increased texture. Additionally, because they do a great job of keeping oil at bay, they can, therefore, be ultra-drying for those with normal and dry skin types—but I’m afraid the list goes on. Silicone creates a silk-like film on the skin—which is why it’s so smoothing—but overtime without thorough cleansing, this film can build up, which can result in dirt and other impurities sticking and becoming trapped (and we all know this means: breakouts, texture and dull tone). So, are you ready to try a silicone-free foundation yet? If so, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite clean formulas to test out for yourself.
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