What are the differences between silicone vs water-based foundation?
Both water-based and silicone-based foundations can look beautiful on every skin type, but there are some key differences between water-based vs silicone-based foundations that can determine the way your makeup looks, feels, and wears. Discover the differences below:
Ingredients: The main difference between water and silicone-based products are their ingredients. Water-based foundations generally have water or aqua as their primary ingredient, whereas silicone-based foundations usually contain derivatives of silicone such as dimethicone.
Finish: Water-based foundations are usually more hydrating and have a dewy, natural-looking finish, whereas silicone-based foundations give skin a smooth, silky-looking texture and generally have a velvet-matte finish.
Wearability: Water-based foundations have a fluid consistency that feels lightweight on skin, offers more breathability, and allows your natural skin to shine. They tend to have a shorter wear time than silicone-based formulas and can begin to break down after a few hours. Alternatively, silicone-based foundations are thicker formulas that are designed to last all day and create a blur-effect skin finish, usually offering fuller coverage and longer wear time.
Can you use silicone primer with water-based foundation?
Yes – you can use silicone-based primers with water-based foundations and vice versa to create a flawless makeup look. Marrying the smoothing, pore-blurring effects of silicone products with the hydration and dewy finish of water-based products can give you the best of both! However, water and silicone naturally repel one another, so if you are wearing makeup for an extended period of time, it’s best to avoid mixing the two as makeup may begin to separate.
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What’s the best primer for water-based foundation?
The best primer for water-based foundations is a water-based primer that will layer seamlessly with foundation and allow it to meld into skin for easy, long-lasting wear. Water-based foundations can be less long-lasting and sometimes lack the super-smooth skin texture of their silicone counterparts, so water-based primers with gripping capabilities and smoothing, blurring elements can be a perfect match.
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