9 Fantastic Silicone-Free Foundations You Should Consider Using
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Everyone dreams of having the perfect skin — especially on their face.
Unfortunately, not all of us have a smooth, flawless complexion every day.
This struggle to achieve clear skin is especially true if we’re actively dealing with skin problems like acne, oily skin, scars, or even pigmentation.
For this reason, foundations are a must-have in any person’s makeup kit. After all, they can give you a perfect, flawless face in an instant.
However, not all foundations are created equal. If they contain silicone, they can cause skin issues for certain individuals.
In this article, we’ll look at the top silicone-free foundations to ensure you get the coverage you need without irritating your skin if you happen to be sensitive to this ingredient.
We’ll also suggest what the best ones could be for you, regardless of your skin type!
- Non-comedogenic
- Safe for sensitive skin
- Cruelty- and paraben-free
- Portable
- Certified organic
- Contains premium natural ingredients
- Gluten- and cruelty-free
- Has six shades
- Adapts to all skin tones
- Buildable coverage
Table of Contents
- 1 What Are Foundations?
- 2 How Do You Choose the Best Foundation for You?
- 3 What Are Silicones?
- 4 Why Should You Go for Silicone-Free Foundations?
- 5 9 Awesome Silicone-Free Foundations You Can Try
- 6 Frequently Asked Questions
- 7 Use a Silicone-Free Foundation for a Flawless Face
- 8 Want To Know More About Skin Trends?
What Are Foundations?
As their name suggests, foundations act as the base of your makeup.
They even out your skin tone and give you coverage to hide imperfections. As a result, your face becomes a perfect canvas for
Foundations come in many shades based on people’s natural skin tones. Given the many options available in the market, you’re bound to find the best shade for you.
Another good thing about foundations is that they come in different types with various formulations.
You can buy foundations in liquid, powder, and cream forms.
There are also water-based, oil-free, and silicone-free options so you can choose which ones suit your skin better.
How Do You Choose the Best Foundation for You?
To maximize the benefits of using a foundation, you must choose the product that works best for you.
If you don’t, you run the risk of looking too made up or exacerbating your skin issues. So just how do you pick the right one?
Here are some tips on how to make the best choice:
1. Determine Your Skin Type
Do you have an oily, dry, normal, or combination skin type? Understanding your skin type can help you pick the right foundation formula for you.
For example, choosing a powder or oil-free liquid foundation will work best if you have oily skin.
Powder foundations may help absorb the oil in your skin, whereas oil-free liquid ones won’t add to your oil problems.
On the other hand, if you have dry skin, it’s better to use liquid foundations.
These types of foundations usually come with hydrating properties. They can help nourish your skin better than powder.
Having combination skin is trickier as certain parts of your skin may be oily or dry. If you have this skin type, look for foundations that are specially made for combination skin.
2. Identify the Best Shade
Choose the foundation shade that best matches your skin tone to get the best results. This way, your face and neck won’t look darker or lighter than the rest of your body.
Finding your best shade also involves knowing your undertone or the natural colors beneath your skin.
That’s because the shade of your choice should also match your specific undertone, or else you run the risk of looking ashy or pale upon foundation application.
Fortunately, most foundation brands offer their products with indicators for reference (i.e., W for warm, C for Cool, and N for neutral).
To check what undertone you have, look at the color of your veins. If they’re bluish or deep-purple, you most likely have a cool undertone.
If they look green, you have a warm undertone. If your veins look nearly colorless or if they match your skin color, then you have neutral undertones.
The best way to get the perfect shade is by swatching several colors along your jawline and then picking the most natural-looking one.
Don’t swatch on your hand as the skin color of your hands and face are often different.
3. Pay Attention to the Ingredients
You’re likely to use foundation every day, and this is why it’s better to look for foundations that are free of certain chemicals that may be potentially dangerous to your health.
You should also stay away from ingredients that aggravate certain skin conditions that you may have. This list includes phthalates, formaldehyde, sulfates, parabens, talc, and in certain instances, silicones.
What Are Silicones?
Silicones are synthetic ingredients that are derived from silica, which is mainly a sand component.
Silica has to undergo a significant chemical process before it can become silicone and be used as a skincare ingredient.
Silicones come in oil or gel form and are added to some cosmetic products because of their sensory properties.
For example, they help give lipsticks a long-lasting effect, whereas if added to hair care products, silicones offer shine and softness.
Additionally, silicones form a water- and air-resistant barrier that can coat the skin and trap moisture. As a result, they can make your skin smooth and silky.
Creams and moisturizers containing silicone may also promote hydration and make fine lines less visible.
So how do you know when your foundation contains silicones? The best way to determine if your foundation has silicones is to check the label.
See if the ingredient list includes substances ending in “-cone,” such as:
- Dimethicone
- Cyclomethicone
- Cetearyl methicone
- Amodimethicone
Other types of silicones you should watch out for include:
- Dimethiconol
- Cyclopentasiloxane
Why Should You Go for Silicone-Free Foundations?
If silicones come with so many benefits, why should you avoid it?
The truth is while silicone may be safe for most people, certain individuals may have adverse responses to it.
For example, silicones may aggravate certain skin conditions, including acne. As it acts like a barrier, it may trap dirt, oil, and dead skin cells.
These impurities can get stuck in the pores and lead to a breakout if you cannot commit to a rigid cleansing routine.
That said, people with acne-prone skin can actually use them as long as they make an effort to cleanse their face thoroughly afterward.
After all, the best foundations for acne-prone skin are ones that are oil-free, but the best oil-free foundations for acne-prone skin are mostly silicone-based.
Additionally, some individuals may also suffer allergic reactions to silicone. Itching, swelling, burning, redness, and hives are signs of an allergic reaction that must be treated immediately.
If you suffer from these symptoms, it’s best to choose makeup, particularly foundations, that are silicone-free.
They will give you the benefits of a foundation without the added risks that silicones may cause!
9 Awesome Silicone-Free Foundations You Can Try
If you’d like to try foundations without silicone but don’t know where to begin, here’s a list you can refer to!
The ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint is an award-winning tinted serum that gives you so much more than just plain coverage!
Key Benefits: Hydrates skin; shields from UVA/YVB/UVC rays; refines bare skin
Features:
- Non-comedogenic
- Combination of makeup, skincare, and sunscreen
- Clinically proven to rejuvenate and protect skin over time
- Comes in more than 20 shades
You won’t go wrong with our editor’s choice for a great silicone-free liquid foundation!
Looking for a non-comedogenic silicone-free foundation that’s safe for sensitive skin?
ILIA’s Super Serum Skin Tint has you covered!
This silicone- and oil-free foundation also has hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, squalene, and zinc oxide as active ingredients that work overtime to give you more than just a light and dewy coverage.
It can hydrate, smoothen, and refine your skin with each use! With SPF 40, it can protect you from the harmful rays of the sun as well.
Makeup, skincare, and SPF combined in an oil-free and silicone-free foundation? That’s ILIA’s Super Serum Skin Tint for you!
This skin-loving cream foundation gives your skin a radiant and irresistible brilliance.
Key Benefits: Gives skin a radiant glow; buildable able light-to-medium coverage; soothes and nourishes skin
Features:
- Great for all skin types
- Uses natural and toxic-free ingredients
- Cruelty-free
For a natural look, choose the Vapour Beauty Soft Focus Foundation!
This foundation from Vapour Beauty is plant-powered and uses camellia seed oil, bergamot peel oil, and sunflower seed oil to soothe, calm, and protect your skin while giving you light-to-medium coverage.
It comes in 16 shades ranging from light to dark, so finding your perfect shade won’t be too difficult a task. It’s also great to use on all skin types, making it ideal even if you have dry or oily skin.
So if you’re looking for a cruelty- and silicone-free foundation, look no further than the Vapour Beauty Soft Focus Foundation.
This product from Juice Beauty is a fantastic serum foundation that combines the benefits of a serum and a foundation in one nifty bottle.
Key Benefits: Provides long-lasting color; nourishes and protects skin; offers full coverage
Features:
- Formulated with plant-derived Phyto-Pigments
- Suitable for all skin types
- Comes in 11 shades
Build up your flawless look with Juice Beauty’s Phyto-Pigments Flawless Serum Foundation!
Looking for a silicone-free foundation that offers full coverage? Your search ends with the Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Flawless Serum Foundation!
The combination of serum and foundation in this product not only gives you adaptable coverage but also works to improve your skin as you use it — thanks to its Phyto-Pigments.
These plant-derived ingredients give your skin a long-lasting and vibrant color while also nourishing and protecting it.
This serum foundation offers you a flawless finish, skin-perfecting benefits, and age-defying properties for that coveted youthful glow!
This product is a great silicone-free powder foundation that can make you look perfect and flawless all day.
Key Benefits: Gives a natural-looking complexion; minimizes fine lines and pores; smoothens and evens skin
Features:
- Adapts to all skin tones
- Provides a mattifying effect
- Comes in six shades
Look your best throughout the day with the Antonym Cosmetics Baked Foundation Face Powder Makeup!
Antonym Cosmetics’ Baked Foundation Face Powder is an easy-to-apply foundation that’s formulated to give you natural-looking and glowing skin.
It minimizes the appearance of wrinkles and lines while nourishing your skin. It’s suitable for all skin types, but those with oily skin will enjoy its added mattifying benefit that helps control excess oil.
Moreover, it’s a versatile product you can use as a setting powder, a touch-up powder, or a foundation.
The Vegan Bio Stick Foundation from Well People is a silicone-free foundation stick that practically melts into your skin to give you a fresh-looking and healthy glow.
Key Benefits: Long-lasting formula; hydrates skin; balances and evens skin tone
Features:
- Portable
- Certified organic
- Contains premium natural ingredients
- Gluten- and cruelty-free
Our budget pick may just be what your skin craves!
As it melts into your skin, Vegan Bio Stick Foundation’s long-lasting and weightless formula will give you a radiant, flawless look that lasts all day.
It’s also very handy, making touching up and contouring a breeze. The stick form is also awesomely mess-proof — perfect if you’re on the go!
With the help of organic ingredients, this foundation won’t leave your skin feeling greasy. This product might just be the best silicone-free foundation for oily skin!
The NARS Light Reflecting Foundation is the perfect cream foundation for daily use. It is perfect for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
Key Benefits: Blurs imperfections; smoothes skin; improves skin clarity
Features:
- Contains 81% natural ingredients
- Vegan formula
- Suitable for most skin types, even sensitive and acne-prone skin
Skincare and makeup in one? It is possible with NARS’ Light Reflecting Foundation!
With the NARS Light Reflecting Foundation, your search for a silicone-free foundation for sensitive skin may just be over!
This foundation works not only by blurring out your skin imperfections but also by smoothening and visibly improving them.
The result? An even skin tone that lasts even after you remove the product!
Its breathable, vegan formula is made up of 81% natural ingredients. It’s gentle enough for those with sensitive and acne-prone skin, making this foundation ideal for everyday use.
A lightweight, breathable foundation that works well in giving you medium coverage and improving your skin at the same time.
Key Benefits: Provides sun protection; minimizes pores; plumps and protects your skin
Features:
- Contains skincare ingredients for improving skin
- Safe for sensitive skin
- Non-acnegenic
If you want a makeup that offers you more than just coverage, then the Kosas Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation is a natural choice.
If you’re looking for a fragrance-, paraben-, and silicone-free foundation, this product is for you!
The Kosas Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation contains ingredients popular in skincare, like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. These ingredients give your skin a boost of hydration while soothing and brightening it at the same time.
Thanks to its lightweight formula, this foundation is able to provide medium coverage without making you look cakey.
Plus it won’t cause skin inflammation and blockages, so those with sensitive skin may find relief in knowing this foundation won’t cause any breakouts!
This mineral foundation works to improve your skin over time — thanks to its nourishing ingredients.
Key Benefits: Improves skin texture; evens out skin tone; hydrates the skin
Features:
- Contains olive-derived squalane and peptides
- Dermatologist-tested
- Safe even for the most sensitive skin
- With SPF 20
For better bare skin, choose BareMinerals’ Original Liquid Mineral Foundation.
The BareMinerals Original Liquid Mineral Foundation is more than just a silicone-free foundation that can give you medium coverage.
It can also even out your skin tone and help reduce redness.
Regular use of this liquid foundation can help improve your skin texture, nourish and hydrate your skin, and reduce the appearance of your pores.
You’ll be glad to know that it’s also made without talc, gluten, synthetic fragrances, and other potentially harmful ingredients.
An organic, plant-infused foundation that works hard to give you a healthy, flawless glow.
Key Benefits: Detoxifies and soothes skin; protects from environmental pollution; improves overall complexion
Features:
- Suitable for oily, combination, sensitive, dry, and normal skin
- Has plant-based, natural ingredients to improve skin
- Vegan and cruelty-free
The Fitglow Beauty Natural + Photo-Filtering Foundation definitely packs a punch with its skin benefits.
A great foundation that works for most skin types, including oily and sensitive skin — that’s the Fitglow Beauty Natural + Photo-Filtering Foundation.
It uses organic and natural ingredients like licorice root, bearberry, amber, and green tea leaf extracts to protect your skin from pollution, promote a more even complexion, and even combat dark spots and fine lines.
This foundation is also from a line of beauty products that is 100% woman-owned. Show your support, and try it today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Are Silicones Used in Foundations?
Silicones help smoothen and fill in any fine lines on the face. For this reason, it is a popular addition to foundations.
With the help of silicone, the foundation will not settle into any creases in the skin. As a result, you get a more polished and refined look.
Additionally, silicones are great at absorbing excess oils on your face so you won’t look and feel oily throughout the day.
What Is the Best Way to Take Off Foundation?
Removing all of your makeup, including foundation, is definitely one of the most important parts of any skincare routine, especially before going to bed.
You wouldn’t want all the dirt, pollutants, and oil that accumulated in your face throughout the day to sit on your face all night!
To gently remove your foundation, you may do any of the following cleansing methods:
- Add a few drops of micellar water on a cotton pad, then lightly wipe the wet pad all over your face.
- Use a face cleanser, and massage it all over your face, particularly around your cheeks, under your hairline, and around your ears. Let the cleanser sit for about 15 seconds. Wipe your face with a wet cotton washcloth, or rinse your face with water.
- If you’re wearing heavy makeup or long-wear foundation, however, you may also try double-cleansing your skin.
This routine involves using both an oil-based cleanser and a water-based cleanser to wash the makeup off your face. Doing so will ensure that your skin is free of impurities afterward.
Use a Silicone-Free Foundation for a Flawless Face
A perfect, flawless face is no longer just a dream. With the right foundation, you can look your best daily!
It’s best to use a silicone-free foundation because silicones can trigger allergies and cause flare-ups if you are sensitive to this ingredient or if you do not have an effective cleansing routine.
Try any of our recommendations, and enjoy the many benefits they may bring to your skin while getting the coverage you need.
Want To Know More About Skin Trends?
Check these out:
- SkinCeuticals Review: Unveiling the Power of Advanced Skincare Solutions
- 20 Best Cruelty-Free Face Washes and Cleansers To Refresh Your Skin
- 5 Best Probiotics for Acne + What You Need To Know