Upsalite
Upsalite® in make-up — close-up of two faces with a soft, matte, blurred-skin finishUpsalite® for anti-chafe — soldier in Swedish forest camouflage carrying a field packUpsalite® for sports performance — climber gripping a rock faceUpsalite® in deodorant — man applying a deodorant stick after showeringUpsalite® in dry shampoo — woman refreshing her hair roots with a spray

The impossible material.

Upsalite® is a patented mesoporous magnesium carbonate — the world's first porous form of the mineral, developed at Uppsala University in 2012. Made without microplastics, it absorbs more than its own weight in oil.

As seen in
VogueThe Washington PostPopSugarVogue ScandinaviaAllureBeauty IndependentPhys.orgNYSCC

Voices about Upsalite®

01First impressions · Upsalite® Powder
@sagaljamaa_
02Upsalite® technology, explained
@janethechemist
03A makeup tip
@palinaskinphilosophy
04Peep in the lab · Episode 2
@benefitcosmetics
05Oil & sweat-free makeup
@guhdehphillip

What is Upsalite®?

Upsalite® is the world's first mesoporous magnesium carbonate — a patented multifunctional ingredient invented in 2012 at Uppsala University, Sweden, after researchers had called the material impossible for over 100 years. Its porous structure, with a narrow pore size distribution and high surface area, absorbs both oil and moisture simultaneously — more than other commonly used ingredients — while scattering light for a strong blurring effect and adhering better to skin.

More about Upsalite
Upsalite® pebble with a magnified view of its mesoporous structure

Key figures

  • 300–500 m²/gSurface area
  • 2–8 nmPore size
  • 1.2 g/gOil absorptionMore than its own weight — on average 1.2 g per gram vs ≈0.5 for talc
  • ~5 minutesOil saturationvs ~61 for silica
  • 0.99–1.00Natural origin index
  • 2012InventedUppsala University

Dermatologically tested — non-irritating and non-sensitising (independent HRIPT, QACS laboratory).

Frequently Asked Questions

01What makes Upsalite® unique?+
Upsalite® is a mineral powder made almost entirely of microscopic pores — a single gram holds more internal surface area than a tennis court. Those pores absorb oil and water at once, more than twice as much oil as talc, and they scatter light, so skin looks less shiny and pores less obvious.
02Is Upsalite® natural?+
Upsalite® is a mineral — magnesium carbonate, the same family as the chalk gymnasts use on their hands — made in a lab rather than mined, and made without microplastics. On ISO 16128, the cosmetics industry's standard scale for natural origin, it scores 0.99 out of 1.00. Making it rather than mining it is deliberate: it means consistent purity from batch to batch and no mining. Upsalite® can also be made with a Natural Origin Index of 1.00 by request.
03Is Upsalite® safe for skin?+
Yes. Upsalite® is dermatologically tested and classified as non-irritating and non-sensitising in independent HRIPT testing. It also has a very low heavy-metal profile, which makes it a good fit for sensitive skin. Its skin tolerability has been documented in peer-reviewed research: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33038019/
04Why do I want Upsalite® in my makeup?+
Upsalite® absorbs more than the ingredients normally used in its place, so it mattifies instantly and keeps working for longer — which means less caking and less creasing through the day. Its uneven, porous surface also scatters light, giving a soft-focus, blurring effect. And because it takes up both oil and water, it handles what most powders can only half manage.
05Will Upsalite® dehydrate my skin?+
No. Upsalite® absorbs only the excess sebum and moisture sitting on the surface of the skin. It doesn’t draw moisture out of the skin itself.
06Will Upsalite® turn my skin grey or white?+
Upsalite® is semi-transparent, and it becomes more translucent the more oil and moisture it absorbs. In its raw form it is white, so formulators need to account for that — but a product containing Upsalite® can be completely transparent on every skin tone.
07Do all products containing Upsalite® use the logo?+
No. That’s a choice each of our brand partners makes, based on their product, their audience and the story they want to tell. Several products on the market contain Upsalite® without saying so on the front of the pack. To check, look for ‘Magnesium Carbonate’ on the ingredient list.

Still have questions?

Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? The full FAQ goes deeper, and About Upsalite® covers the science.

Read the full FAQAbout Upsalite®Contact us