Nylon-12

Nylon-12 is a synthetic polyamide powder commonly used in makeup and skincare that gives a silky glide, soft-focus diffusion, and light oil uptake, refining the feel of emulsions and powders while maintaining a breathable, even-appearing finish on skin.
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Ingredient Snapshot

Overview
A silky powder that blurs pores and lightly soaks up oil.
Category
Tone/Texture, Oil Control, Skin Conditioning
Type
Film Former

Ingredient Ratings

Overall Rating

Great

Comedogenic Risk

None

Skin Benefits

Soft-focus blurring helps minimize the look of pores and fine lines while maintaining a lightweight feel, and provides a light mattifying effect without a dry finish.

Uses In Skincare & Cosmetics

Common in setting powders, smoothing primers, and tinted moisturizers to improve glide and a diffused finish.

Comedogenic Rating

This ingredient is not typically evaluated for comedogenicity, and no standardized rating is available.

Safety

Considered low risk for irritation or sensitization as it functions primarily as a physical texturizer. If used in loose powders, avoid inhaling airborne particles.

Is Nylon-12 a Good Ingredient?

This stable, inert microspheric polymer delivers consistent texture-improving and soft-focus effects with a low likelihood of irritation across diverse formulations, which is what earns it Great.