What it is
Magnesium Silicate is a finely milled, naturally occurring or synthetically produced mineral closely related to talc. In skin care and color cosmetics it is used to absorb excess oil, give a soft powdery slip, reduce shine, and keep powder products free-flowing. In sunscreens and primers it can help mattify the surface and improve the sensory finish.
Safety & warnings
Magnesium silicate is considered well tolerated on skin and is non-irritating in finished products. As with other very fine mineral powders, the main practical concern is avoiding inhalation of loose airborne powder during manufacture or when applying loose powders; in cream and stick sunscreens it is bound in the formula.
Origin & sourcing
Mineral; it can be sourced from purified natural magnesium silicate minerals or produced synthetically. It is chemically related to talc.
Questions everyone asks
Why is magnesium silicate in my sunscreen?
It is used to absorb oil, reduce shine, and improve the powdery slip and texture of the product, not to provide UV protection.
Is magnesium silicate the same as talc?
They are closely related magnesium-silicate minerals with similar functions, but they are not identical materials.