Analysis of Foundation Ingredients

This foundation formula appears to be a water-in-silicone or water-in-oil emulsion, designed for long wear and smooth application, likely providing good coverage. Here's a breakdown of the key ingredients and their functions:

• Base & Solvents:

  • Water: The primary solvent, forming the continuous or dispersed phase.
  • Cyclopentasiloxane: A volatile silicone, acts as a solvent and emollient, providing a smooth, non-greasy feel that evaporates after application.
  • Butylene Glycol: A humectant and solvent, helps hydrate the skin and improve product texture.

• Silicones & Film Formers:

  • Trimethylsiloxysilicate: A silicone resin that forms a durable film on the skin, contributing significantly to the long-wear and transfer-resistant properties of the foundation.
  • PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone: A silicone-based emulsifier that helps blend the water and silicone/oil phases, creating a stable emulsion.
  • Dimethicone: A common silicone polymer, acts as an emollient and skin conditioner, providing a smooth feel and helping to fill in fine lines.
  • Polymethylsilsesquioxane: A spherical silicone powder that provides a soft-focus effect, absorbs oil, and improves the texture and spreadability of the product.
  • Methicone: Often used as a surface treatment for pigments to improve their dispersion and feel in the formula.

• Emulsifiers & Stabilizers:

  • Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate: An emulsifier, likely contributing to the stability of the water-in-oil/silicone emulsion.
  • Magnesium Sulfate: An inorganic salt that helps stabilize water-in-oil emulsions and can increase viscosity.
  • Laureth-7: A surfactant/emulsifier, potentially used in combination with other emulsifiers or for pigment dispersion.

• Thickeners & Rheology Modifiers:

  • Tribehenin: A wax/ester that helps thicken the formula and provide structure.
  • Xanthan Gum: A natural gum used to thicken and stabilize the water phase.
  • Disteardimonium Hectorite: A clay-based thickener and rheology modifier that helps suspend pigments and provides a smooth application feel.
  • Cellulose Gum: Another natural gum thickener and stabilizer.
  • Propylene Carbonate: A solvent often used to activate clay thickeners like Disteardimonium Hectorite.

• Preservatives & Antioxidants:

  • Sodium Dehydroacetate: A preservative to prevent microbial growth.
  • Phenoxyethanol: A widely used preservative.
  • Tocopheryl Acetate: A form of Vitamin E, acts as an antioxidant to protect the formula and condition the skin.
  • Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate: An antioxidant to prevent the degradation of the formula.

• Other Ingredients:

  • Alumina: Can act as a bulking agent, opacifier, or pigment surface treatment.

• May Contain (Pigments & UV Filter):

  • Iron Oxides, Mica, Titanium Dioxide: These are the color pigments that give the foundation its shade. Titanium Dioxide also functions as a physical UV filter.

Overall, this formula combines volatile silicones for a light feel and long-wear film formers, along with various emulsifiers and thickeners to create a stable, well-structured foundation. The inclusion of powders like Polymethylsilsesquioxane and Alumina suggests it may offer some oil control or mattifying properties, while the pigments provide coverage.