Ingredient
Silica
Benefits
Synthetic
Silica is a fine, absorbent white powder that gently cleanses and polishes, as well as a thickening agent used in makeup to prevent caking. It can also be coated with synthetic fluorphlogopite to create eco-friendly glitters and lustres.
Occurring in nature in the form of quartz and a major constituent of sand, silica is a very common mineral found in plants and animals. Used throughout the cosmetics industry, it is put in toothpaste as a polishing agent to remove plaque, but its properties also lend themselves well towards makeup where they help to evenly distribute a product across the skin.
When applied to the hair, silica helps smooth and flatten the hair cuticles which promotes shine as they better reflect the light. It also provides a gentle exfoliation that stimulates blood flow and cleanses the scalp, improving its overall health and promoting hair growth.
Silicon and its derivatives (including silica!) are thought to be important in collagen synthesis. Collagen is a key structural protein in the skin and hair and is necessary to keep both healthy and strong.