Si
Silica
Silica · Silica Dimethyl Silylate
Mineral powder. Optical-blurring effect in primers and finishing powders.
What it does
Silica in cosmetics functions as an oil-absorber, a viscosity modifier, and a soft-focus optical blurring agent. The 'soft focus' effect is what makes it a primer staple — it scatters light to visually smooth the skin's surface. Generally inert; rare for it to be the cause of a reaction. Hydrated silica is a slightly different INCI used in toothpaste as a mild abrasive.
Pairs worth knowing
This page is public and indexed on purpose (unlike profiles and drops, which are unlisted) — it’s the citation behind shared ingredient cards, and it should be findable.
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