How to Add Body to W/Si Liquid Foundation

If your W/Si liquid foundation feels too thin or lacks "body" (texture/substance), you can add ingredients that increase viscosity or provide solid structure, focusing on those compatible with the silicone phase of your formula.

Consider adding the following types of ingredients:

• Silicone Elastomers or Silicone Gel: These are special silicones that form a gel network in the silicone base, effectively increasing viscosity and adding substance. They also provide a soft, smooth, non-greasy feel and can help blur imperfections.

  • Examples include Silicone Elastomer Powder (a powder that thickens silicone bases), Silicone Gel (Medium Matte, Dimethicone Base, High Viscosity), Silicone Gel (Flex/Snail, Dimethicone Base), or Silicone Gel 9040 (e.q. DC 9040, Cyclopentasiloxane Base), which are thick silicone gels that improve texture, making it smooth, light, and providing a matte finish.

• High-Viscosity Silicones (High Viscosity Dimethicone): Directly using Dimethicone with high viscosity can increase the thickness of the silicone phase.

  • Examples include Dimethicone (Heavy/60k, Low-Odor) or Dimethicone (Heavy/500k, Low-Odor) (the latter is very high viscosity, often used in specific applications like scar creams, but can be used to add thickness).

• Powders / Fillers: Adding powders or fillers compatible with silicones will help add bulk and texture to the foundation, giving it more body and potentially helping with oil absorption and providing a matte feel.

  • Examples include Talc Powder (5 Micron, Silane Coated) or Talc Powder (Non-Coated, 325 Mesh, >90% Whiteness) (Talc adds substance and whiteness), Anti-Caking Silica or UltraBlur™ (Skin Blurring Silica) (Silica helps absorb oil and provides a smooth, blurring effect).

• Silicone Thickeners: These are ingredients specifically designed to increase viscosity in silicone oils.

  • An example is Silicone Thick™ (provides viscosity in silicone), which thickens Cyclopentasiloxane.

When selecting ingredients, consider other desired properties in your formula, such as matte finish, smoothness, blurring effect, or oil absorption. It is recommended to start with small amounts and gradually adjust until the desired texture is achieved.