Dimethicone (and) Dimethiconol

CAS No-31692-79-2

Dimethiconol is a type of silicone that is used in skincare and hair care products. Silicones are a group of synthetic ingredients used to improve the texture and application of skincare, haircare, and cosmetics. Dimethiconol, as a silicone, helps to improve the appearance, texture and feel of the product, prevent moisture loss from the skin, and enhance the efficacy of the product. There has been a lot of controversy over this ingredient, as well as silicones as a broader skincare ingredient group. The controversial claims argue that dimethiconol, because of its synthetic origin, is bad for the skin, is responsible for acne and breakouts, prevents the key ingredients in products from working, and is bad for the environment. Due to these claims, the responsible regulatory bodies such as the US Food and Drug Administration and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel have invested significant resources into evaluating its safety. The research into dimethiconol’s safety has produced evidence that not only indicates dimethicone’s safety but also suggests that dimethiconol is beneficial for the skin in many ways.

Dimethiconol, also referred to as silicone gum, is a polymer similar to dimethicone a commonly used silicone in cosmetics. Silicones are synthetic polymers made up of repeating units of siloxane, elemental silicon and oxygen, combined with other elements, most often carbon and hydrogen. Thus, silicones can also be called polysiloxanes. The terms “silicone” and “silicon” are often mistakenly used interchangeably, when they are actually quite different. Silicon is the 14th element on the periodic table and the second most abundant element in the earth’s crust, after oxygen. In contrast, silicones are always synthetically produced.