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Synthetic Fluorphlogopite

What Synthetic Fluorphlogopite is & what it does

A synthetic mica that adds a clean, bright shimmer and soft-focus finish with high purity. It refines the look of the skin surface.

What is Synthetic Fluorphlogopite and what does it do in sunscreen?

Synthetic Fluorphlogopite is a lab-grown mica, used as a colorant and finishing agent. It adds a clean, bright shimmer and a soft-focus effect that blurs the look of pores and uneven texture. In tinted and illuminating sunscreens it is what gives the product a smooth, refined finish on the skin surface.

Is Synthetic Fluorphlogopite safe?

Yes. It is an inert mineral that sits on the skin surface and is widely used in cosmetics, including products applied near the eyes. Because it is made in a lab rather than mined, it has very high, consistent purity, which avoids the trace-mineral impurities sometimes found in natural mica.

What is the difference between Synthetic Fluorphlogopite and natural mica?

Both are micas that add shimmer and a soft-focus finish, but Synthetic Fluorphlogopite is grown in a lab while natural mica is mined. The synthetic version is prized for its high purity and consistency, and it is also chosen by brands that want to avoid the sourcing concerns linked to mined mica. On the skin they perform a very similar role.

Does Synthetic Fluorphlogopite clog pores?

Generally no. It is an inert mineral powder that rests on the surface of the skin rather than an oil or wax, so it is not a typical pore-clogging ingredient. If a shimmery or tinted sunscreen breaks you out, the emollients and oils carrying the pigment are the more likely cause.

Is Synthetic Fluorphlogopite vegan?

Yes. It is a synthetic mineral made in a lab from mineral building blocks, with no animal-derived content, so it is suitable for vegan formulas. Being lab-grown also means it is free of the mined-mica sourcing concerns, which is part of why brands choose it.

Sunscreens with Synthetic Fluorphlogopite

We rate 189 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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