Cyclopentasiloxane & Dimethicone Silicones – Are They Safe For Your Skin

The Truth About Silicones in Cosmetics

Silicones like cyclopentasiloxane and dimethicone are staples in cosmetic skin products, because of their many useful enhancing properties. Some people are uncomfortable with the idea of products that include silicone. Their use in cosmetics, then, is the subject of some debate. However, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has declared them safe to use in cosmetics. (1)

For some reason, they have a bad reputation, although the truth is these substances are incredibly enriching for your skin. If you look at the ingredients for some of your skin products such as Boots No 7 Serum, Advanced Dermatology, and The Ordinary Skin Care, no doubt you’ll find at least one of them included. They are very low risk. These soothing ingredients provide rich benefits for the skin can treat under eye bags, crow’s feet, dark circles under eyes and under eye wrinkles while you sleep.

What are Cyclopentasiloxane & Dimethicone Silicones?

Cyclopentasiloxane and dimethicone are synthetic substances that are made up of silicone, oxygen, and sometimes other elements like carbon and hydrogen. Although they are natural, before they go into skincare products, they do undergo chemical processing.

Cyclopentasiloxane and dimethicone are very liquid substances that can make the skin smooth and radiant looking, as they are emollients. Silicones are best used in wound healing and to improve scars. Although silicones are not comedogenic, silicones can be a barrier that can trap oil, dirt, and dead skin contributing to an acne flare in acne-prone patients.

These substances condition the skin. They are in skin care products like creams, serums, foundations, and makeup primers. Using products early in your skin routine can be problematic because they act as a barrier blocking less occlusive products from entering the skin. They need to be applied last in a skin routine. Because of their slick texture, they can make the skin look plump and smooth.

Cyclopentasiloxane for the Skin

This silicone is in both skin and hair care products. It’s a thin, colorless substance that has hydrating properties. It actually does not penetrate into the skin but evaporates rather quickly. Cyclopentasiloxane for skin is an emollient that can make the skin soft and smooth by trapping liquid and hydrating.

The Cyclopentasiloxane benefits include treating skin conditions such as rosacea (Note: Avoid silicones in acne-prone skin or rosacea because they occlude pores and trap oil, dirt, and skin cells causing an acne flare). It has anti-aging benefits, moisturizing properties, and it’s sometimes added to sunscreen. There is a chance that Cyclopentasiloxane could cause some people with allergies a mild irritation on the surface of the skin. If this happens, the ingredient is not good for you and you should stop using products which include it right away.

One major benefit of Cyclopentasiloxane in skincare for manufacturers is that it’s incredibly cheap to purchase, which makes it more attractive as an ingredient than some of the other relevant organic substances. Consequently, you’ll find it in cosmetic products very often.

Some people believe that this substance is bad for the environment, as chemicals in skin products may get into the sewage system and be harmful. However, a review in the Canadian Environmental Protection Act has concluded that it’s in fact not dangerous to the environment, and very little of it actually gets into the system. Silicones are bioaccumulative. Sludge pollution in the water can occur when they are rinsed or washed off the skin and they may not break down for many years. (2)

Dimethicone for the Skin

Dimethicone is a silicone polymer which is in skincare, hair care, and makeup products. When it comes to the skin, it’s a very effective anti-aging substance. It has the ability to smooth out deep forehead wrinkles and frown lines. It’s an excellent moisturizer because it traps liquid under the skin, therefore keeping it well-hydrated.

Dimethicone cream can lessen redness and irritation on the skin because it’s very soothing. In addition, it’s a protective ingredient which can prevent further damage to the skin. Many people think that dimethicone for skin can make acne worse, but there’s no evidence for that (it can be comedogenic in acne prone skin). In fact, it’s included in many products like SiO Beauty SkinPad, Instantly Ageless Moisture Lift, Clinique and Luminesce Advanced Night Repair By Jeunesse Global that treat this skin condition. Dimethicone in skin care is actually an effective treatment for acne. (3)

Facts About Silicone – What Is It & Why Are They Used in Cosmetics

Silicones are fascinating substances which have a variety of uses, including treating the skin. Here are some interesting facts about silicones.

• Silicone is the most bountiful element that makes up the earth’s crust. (4)
• It’s the third most common trace element found in the body, in both people and animals. It’s also found in plants and in the water. (4)
• A Swedish chemist by the name of Jöns Jacob Berzelius discovered the element in 1824. (5)
• Studies on animals indicate that a deficiency in silicone can lead to certain skeletal abnormalities. (5)
• Silicone can prevent hair loss from occurring, and also makes the hair brighter. (5)
• Research shows that moisturizers with silicone increase the thickness of the skin and decrease the amount of melanin. (6)
• Silicones are actually one of the safest substances to use on allergic skin. (3)
• Dimethicone is used frequently in adhesives, rubbery silicone caulks, water-repelling coatings, and aquarium sealants.
• Dimethicone can decrease the appearance of scars and heal the damaged tissue. (3)
• Cyclopentasiloxane in skin care is only one use for this substance. It’s also included in lubricants, windshield coatings, medical implants, and sealants.
• One reason for the use of cyclopentasiloxane in cosmetics is to give the products a lubricated, very slippery feel which is appealing to the eye.

People Also Ask

Conclusion

Cyclopentasiloxane and dimethicone are silicones that are used frequently in skincare products such as Crepe Erase, Mario Badescu, Obagi Skin Care, and Arbonne for their many benefits. They also have any other purposes, including cyclopentasiloxane for hair to prevent hair loss. These are very hydrating substances which moisturize the skin deeply and provide anti-aging advantages.

The excess moisture provided under the skin can smooth out wrinkles and fine lines. Although cyclopentasiloxane and dimethicone sometimes do have a reputation for being problematic, in actual fact, that’s just an untrue myth. Unless you have an allergy to dimethicone or cyclopentasiloxane, these products are extremely helpful and enriching for the skin and are very safe to use.

You can find them included in skin care products, anti-aging creams, makeup, eye creams, acne creams, serums, and other similar products because of their unique advantages. Look for skin care brands that include them like Mary Kay, Murad, Proactiv, and Rodan + Fields if you really want a treat for your skin.