What's In This Post
If you’re serious about your makeup selection, you may have heard of the term “silicone based” like “silicone based foundation” or “silicone based primer”.
Silicone is a common ingredient in makeup products. They provide the skin with a smooth appearance. They also give your makeup waterproof properties. Yet, when you check the label of your makeup, “silicone” is never listed as an ingredient.
What is a Silicone Based Foundation?
A silicone based foundation is a makeup foundation that mainly consists of silicones like Dimethicone and Cyclomethicone. Silicone foundations usually have these 2 ingredients listed at the top of its ingredients list.
The purpose of this post is to give you a quick guide on choosing the best silicone based foundations. Silicone Based Foundations are not for everyone. You must ensure that your skin type is suitable for this type of foundation (I will go into detail later in this post).
Contents
Best Silicone Based Foundations List:
The products that I recommend here are the most popular ones among my clients. As I have mentioned before, silicone based foundations are not for everyone and you should always do some research first before purchasing. Some people may develop allergic reactions while using silicone based products. However, if you know that your skin type is OK towards silicone then these products can do wonders for you! Check them out and I hope that you will find these helpful.
1. Temptu Pro Silicone Based Foundation
This silicone based foundation is good, smoothens your skin and makes it shine. The silicone in it makes it good for use even in warm weather so you don’t need to be scared about sweating because the foundation is waterproof. Although I love water based foundations because of their very natural feel, with silicone base, I have more assurance that the foundation will not run down my face when it gets hot or wet. Moreover, it is more elastic and retains more water on your skin to prevent dryness.
The smell given off by the product before application is lost after you apply it and so you don’t need to worry about the scent. The price is also very affordable. The 1 oz bottle can be used for 3 to 4 months even when you use it daily. The staying power of the foundation is really high and so there’s no fear that it will stain your clothes. Tempu S/B Foundation is light and will not make your face feel heavy.
If you’re considering using a water based foundation, check out my detailed guide on water based foundations. I did a lot of research and even answered some of my blog reader’s common questions in that post.
I’ve also written a guide on oil free foundations if you want to find out more about this type of foundation.
2. Max Factor Lasting Performance Make-Up
I am a big fan of this product because of the wonders it does on my skin. After application, my skin feels really silky, the coloring on my skin is really beautiful and it fills wrinkles brilliantly. It doesn’t give a heavy look despite the covering it provides. I highly recommend it, it has a natural look because it blends easily with the color of your skin and doesn’t stand out or look oily. Your skin has enough space to breathe and ends up looking very healthy and pretty.
3. FACE Atelier Ultra Foundation
The ultra foundation prevents dehydration and doesn’t have that oily feeling. It leaves your skin looking very smooth, wrinkle-free and natural. It is a great foundation among celebrities, for example Lady Gaga.
The FACE Atelier Ultra Foundation is one the best silicone based foundation for dry skin and it will definitely be worth your time to try it.
Best Drugstore Silicone Based Foundations
If you’re thinking about trying some silicone foundations, a good starting place is the drugstore. There are plenty of selections available. The only downside is that you wouldn’t get the help you need during the selection process and will need to rely on trial and error to find a product that works for you.
Here are some drugstore silicone based foundations that I like:
1. L`Oreal Paris Infallible 24h fresh Wear Foundation
If you’re looking for foundations that are waterproof, you may find my guide on the best waterproof foundations useful.
2. Rimmel London Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation
Is Your Foundation Silicone Based?
I’ve compiled a list below of some of the most popular foundations. I’ve analysed the ingredients to help you determine if they are silicone based or not.
Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation
This foundation is a 24-hour wear with a natural matte finish. It provides a medium coverage that is buildable to full. It is oil-free, transfer resistant, waterproof, non-comedogenic, non-acnegenic and fragrance-free.
Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation
This essentially is 2 products in one in which you get the benefits of both a concealer and foundation. It has 45 shades and is cruelty-free. It is a full coverage water resistant foundation that is great for under-eye circles. This product is made in USA.
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation
This foundation has a soft matte finish with a medium coverage that is buildable to full. There are 50 shades to choose from. It is a oil-free formula that is sweat and humidity resistant. It’s non-comedogenic and cruelty-free.
Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation
This foundation is an oil-free, 24-hours long wear foundation with a matte finish. It has SPF 15 sun protection and is formulated with perlite and silica for superior oil absorption. It is transfer-resistant, non-comedogenic and frangrance-free.
There are 45 shades to choose from. It is a medium coverage foundation buildable to full coverage. It is ideal for combination, dry and oily skin.
MAC Studio Fix Fluid Spf 15 Foundation
This foundation is a long-wear, 24 hour formula with sun protection (SPF 15) and matte finish. It is a medium to full coverage foundation that works for all skin-types, especially oily skin. It is non-drying, non-streaking and won’t settle into fine lines and wrinkles. It’s great for photos as it reduces reflection of oil on your face. The color stays long and does not oxidate easily.
NARS Sheer Glow Foundation
This NARS foundation is contains vitamin C which helps to brighten skin. It also contains Turmeric which helps to enhance the skin’s radiance. It is free of mineral oil, sulfates SLS and SLES, parabens, formaldehyde, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclosan, triclocarban, and fragrance. It contains glycerin that attracts and holds moisture.
The formula is medium coverage that is buildable to full coverage. It works best on combination and oily skin. It is gluten-free. There are 40 shades to choose from.
Too Faced Born This Way Foundation
This is an oil-free medium to full coverage foundation that is formulated with coconut water and hyaluronic acid to help hydrate your skin. It contains Alpine Rose to brighten the skin’s appearance. There are 35 shades to choose from.
Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation
This foundation works well on oily skin. It contains micro-powders to help control shine and minimize the appearance of pores. It is dermatologist and allergy tested and non-comedogenic.
Maybelline Super Stay Full Coverage Foundation
This foundation is a light-weight 24 Hour formula that contains saturated color pigments to ensure color consistency though-out the day. It is a oil-free full coverage foundation that is non-comedogenic and tested by dermatologists.
Bourjois Healthy Mix Anti-fatigue Foundation
This foundation contains an anti-aging formula blended with antioxidants vitamin C and vitamin E. It also contains vitamin B5 for toning the skin. This formula has hyaluronic acid to help provide your skin with good hydration. It works well on dry skin. There are 22 shades to choose from.
DIOR Forever Undercover Foundation
This is a high-pigmented full coverage foundation that is lightweight and can last up to 24 hours. It is a matte finish that works well on combination and oily skin. It is paraben-free and non-comedogenic.
Silicone Based Foundations: What you Need To Know
How to tell if a Foundation is Silicone Based?
Not sure how to tell if your foundation is silicone based or not? The number 1 mistake that many people make is believing “silicone” is an ingredient that you can find on the package of your favorite foundation. This is completely untrue.
Silicones are chemicals and should not be mistaken as an ingredient. However, there are certain ingredients that you can look for to tell whether or not a product contains silicone.
“Silicone-based” means that your foundation or makeup may contain one of the following types of common silicones:
Cyclomethicone – A fluid-like ingredient with a unique quality that makes it spread easily. It is smooth and slippery on the skin and forms a covering/shield against water. It also has the ability to cover wrinkles.
Dimethicone – It’s an oil which is silicone-based and is used mainly as a moisture preservative. It locks the moisture inside to stop it from escaping to the atmosphere.
Trimethylsiloxysilicate – Trimethylsiloxysilicate is a skin sealant which forms a shield on the skin to minimize loss of water and prevent skin dehydration. Also it prevents formation of foam on already finished product when it is stirred or shaken. From the research carried out by The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel, Trimethylsiloxysilicate has been declared a safe ingredient.
Cyclopentasiloxane – It can get rid of wrinkles and scars on the skin to an extent. It also has the ability to retain moisture in the skin thereby making the skin soft and fresh. It retains water on the surface of the skin, and by so doing, prevent scaling and skin dehydration. Cyclopentasiloxane lubricates the skin and makes the water layers more flexible. But it’s capacity shouldn’t be compared to that of Vitamin A or E because it cannot nourish or exfoliate the skin like the vitamins. It only forms a protective barrier to lock water in and keep the skin lubricated.
Why do Makeup Brands Use Silicone in Their Foundations?
Makeup Brands use silicone in their foundations because silicone has many great fluid qualities and can be used in its different forms to keep the skin smooth. It’s a waterproof agent and some forms can be used to minimize scarring and heal wounds. The molecular structure of these forms of silicone is very favorable to the skin because the molecules have large spaces in between the molecules. This gives enough space for an absorbent covering to be formed which prevents the skin from suffocation. This accounts for the lightweight of the silicone even as it prevents moisture loss.
Why You Should Use Silicone Based Foundations
Naturally, we sweat and so we often go for smooth, lustrous hair or makeup that will not get spoiled when we sweat. Silicone is the basic ingredient that allows this to be possible. There are several forms of silicone which are refined to carry out a particular function; either waterproof function, moisture sealants, hair protection, silky feeling, long lasting coloration, silky feeling on the skin as the products are applied instead of oily feeling. These ingredients keep our skin dry after applying our deodorants and make our sunscreens resistant to water from sweat or elsewhere thereby making it last on our skins.
Using a Water Based Primer with Silicone Based Foundation
A water-based primer can be used with a silicone-based foundation. The proper way to do this is to first apply the water-based primer and let it dry down. Once most of the water content evaporate / absorb, applying your silicone foundation on top will help it stick better. If you apply the silicone foundation too early, it will separate.
The golden rule is to always apply the “same base” makeup together. This ensures that your makeup will work together and will not affect each other. For example, the best primers for silicone based foundations are silicone based primers like the Clinique Superprimer Face Primer. This may sound obvious but you would be surprised how many people get this wrong. Having makeup of the same base ensures that they can stick and work together.
In reality though, this is difficult because people like to try and test different types of makeup and it’s not easy to always “match” the base.
Here is what you need to remember:
Good together:
- Water based primer with water-based foundation
- Water based primer with silicone-based foundation
- Silicone based primer with silicone-based foundation
Not good together:
- Silicone based primer with water-based foundation
A water-based foundation has a harder time “sticking” to a silicone primer. That’s because when it’s fresh out the bottle, there is still too much water in the makeup making it harder to stick.
Is Silicone Based Foundation Good for Dry Skin
Silicone based foundations can be good on dry skin. Silicones such as cyclopentasiloxane has the ability to retain moisture in the skin. Cyclopentasiloxane can also help to lubricate the skin, making it smooth and soft to the touch. Choose silicone foundations containing hyaluronic acid for increased moisturization benefits.
BTW, I have written a detailed guide on the best foundations with hyaluronic acid. Check it out if you want to know more.
Do Silicone Based Foundations Cause Acne?
Silicone Based Foundations may cause acne. Silicones help the penetration of pore-clogging ingredients into your pores, which allows for the development of acne bacteria and breakouts. Silicones are not known to clog pores. Choose silicone based foundations containing salicylic acid, a strong acne bacteria-fighting ingredient that can help to treat acne and prevent future breakouts.
Is Silicone-Based Foundation Bad For You?
Silicone based foundations may be bad for you. It depends on your skin type, the type of silicone based foundation you choose and the products that you choose to use with the foundation. For example, if you choose to use a silicone based foundation under a comedogenic concealer. The silicone will help the penetration of the comedogenic ingredients into pores, thereby clogging them. Some people have allergic reactions to silicone-based makeup.
Silicone based foundations are generally considered safe to use for most people but they are not for everyone.