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Silica Dimethyl Silylate

What Silica Dimethyl Silylate is & what it does

A silicone-treated silica that thickens, mattifies, and gives a soft, dry-touch feel. It absorbs oil and improves the stability of the formula.

What is Silica Dimethyl Silylate and what does it do in sunscreen?

Silica Dimethyl Silylate is a silicone-treated form of silica. In a sunscreen it acts mainly as a mattifier and thickener: it absorbs surface oil, gives the formula a soft, dry-touch feel, and helps keep the product stable. The silicone treatment makes the silica blend smoothly into the base instead of feeling gritty.

Is Silica Dimethyl Silylate safe?

Yes. It is a widely used, well-tolerated cosmetic powder that works on the surface of the skin rather than being absorbed. Silica and its silicone-treated forms have a long history of safe use in skincare and makeup, and at the small amounts used in sunscreen it is non-irritating for most people.

Does Silica Dimethyl Silylate clog pores?

Generally no. It is a lightweight, oil-absorbing powder rather than a heavy oil or wax, and is more often used to reduce shine and grease than to add it. It sits on the skin surface and is not considered a notable pore-clogging ingredient.

Is Silica Dimethyl Silylate natural or synthetic?

It is essentially synthetic. It starts from silica, which occurs in nature as a mineral, but it is then treated with a silicone (dimethyl silylate) in the lab to change how it feels and disperses. The finished ingredient is a processed, man-made material.

Why is Silica Dimethyl Silylate used in matte sunscreens?

Because it absorbs oil and leaves a soft, dry finish. Sunscreens can feel heavy or shiny on their own, so a mattifying powder like this one is added to soak up surface sebum and give a more comfortable, blurred, non-greasy look. It also helps thicken and stabilize the formula.

Sunscreens with Silica Dimethyl Silylate

We rate 227 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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