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Silica Silylate

What Silica Silylate is & what it does

A silica powder treated for a dry, soft feel that absorbs oil and mattifies skin. It improves slip and reduces shine.

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

Silica Silylate is a silica powder whose surface has been treated to give a dry, soft, silky feel. In a sunscreen it works as a mattifier: it absorbs excess oil, reduces shine, and improves slip so the product glides on and sets to a smoother finish. This is why it shows up so often in oil-control and makeup-setting SPF products.

Is Silica Silylate safe?

Yes. Silica and treated silicas are well-established, widely used cosmetic ingredients considered safe in finished products. Silica Silylate stays on the surface of the skin to absorb oil and add slip rather than penetrating. It is non-irritating for most people at the levels used in sunscreen and makeup.

Does Silica Silylate clog pores?

Generally no. Silica Silylate is an oil-absorbing powder, so it tends to reduce surface shine rather than clog pores. It is widely used in products aimed at oily and combination skin. As with any powder some very acne-prone people prefer to patch test, but it is not a classic pore-clogging ingredient.

Does Silica Silylate make sunscreen mattifying?

Yes. That is its main job. Silica Silylate is a treated silica that soaks up excess oil and diffuses light, so it leaves a more matte, less shiny finish. Sunscreens for oily skin or for wearing under makeup often include it for exactly this reason.

Is Silica Silylate natural or synthetic?

It starts from silica, which occurs abundantly in nature as sand and quartz, but the cosmetic grade is processed and the surface is chemically treated (silylated) in a lab for a drier feel. So it is best described as a processed, lab-finished mineral powder rather than a raw natural ingredient.

Sunscreens with Silica Silylate

We rate 104 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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