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(Hydrated) Magnesium silicate
  • parenthesise
    Hi all,
    Quick question from a girl without much science knowledge: what's the difference between hydrated magnesium silicate and its non-hydrated variant?
    The reason I'm asking is because I'm on the market for some mineral foundation, and found a brand that says they're talc-free, but has magnesium silicate in their ingredients list. When I Wiki'd this, I was redirected to talc. The only difference I can tell is that talc is the hydrated version of the compound.
    I've read the stuff about talc being safe/dangerous, so this question isn't about that—I'm just curious about the difference between the two
  • Kerence
    Hi, I am new to the forum and can't really help you with the hydrated/ non hydreated Q, but I am also a mineral makeup wearer and have just tried to reduce the number of things I have no idea about on my face so I swiched from Jane irdale ( I have been using that since I was 16) because of the Bysmuth Oxychloride to an Aussie brand called Inika and so far so good. Next I am going to try another Aussie one called Musq. These both don't that the stuff your talking about in them so maybe see if you can get one like these without it if no one elce trys to answer your question.
    Sorry I could'nt help!
  • parenthesise
    Oh hey, Kerence! No problem! It's so tricky trying to avoid marketing ploys, that you can get paranoid, huh? It's harder to find mineral makeup that I can get in a brick and mortar store (don't want to risk wasting product by ordering the wrong shade online), fits my budget and comes in a compact (don't like loose). It's OK though, there are some other more accessible compact foundations I wanted to try anyway. This was just to fulfill my curiosity since I found out later that this particular brand has bismuth oxycholoride.
  • tom_guy85
    yup, you're right, they're essentially the same thing. Magnesium silicate is the chemical formula of talc, as well as other things, since talc if just a mixture of different magnesium silicates. Hydrated just means that water is attached and held by the mineral, like a sponge holds some water even if you wring it. Anything anhydrous (without any water) will be hydrated in the presence of water, which will be in your product or the air. It has no significant effect on the mineral.
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