Silica
Silica is a naturally occurring mineral used in UK beauty products to give a silky-smooth texture, control shine and create a soft-focus finish. You’ll find it in primers, foundations, powders and skincare formulas where it helps products apply evenly and feel weightless on the skin.
How it works in skincare
In cosmetics and skincare, silica works as an absorbent, anti-caking and slip agent. Its fine, spherical particles scatter light to blur the look of pores and fine lines while absorbing excess oil and sebum, leaving skin with a matte yet hydrated feel. It also improves the spreadability and texture of creams, serums and colour cosmetics so they glide on effortlessly without pilling or streaking.
Key benefits
- Creates a soft-focus, blurred finish
- Controls shine and absorbs excess oil
- Improves product texture and spreadability
- Gives a silky, weightless feel on skin
- Helps makeup stay in place longer
- Visibly smooths the appearance of pores
Best for
oily skin, combination skin, acne-prone skin, mature skin, enlarged pores
Where it comes from
Silica is a mineral derived from quartz, a naturally abundant crystalline compound found in sand, rocks and the earth’s crust. In beauty formulas it is highly purified and often processed into microscopic spherical particles for optimal cosmetic use.