What Does Dimethicone Do To Your Skin

Beauty

What Is Dimethicone & Is It Bad For Pare & Hair? Permit'due south Investigate The Ingredient

Contributing author

By Andrea Jordan

Contributing writer

Andrea Jordan is a beauty and lifestyle freelance writer covering topics from hair and skincare to family and home. She received her bachelor's in Mag Journalism from Temple University and you can find her work at summit publications like InStyle, PopSugar, StyleCaster, Business Insider, PureWow and OprahMag.

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July 22, 2021

When information technology comes to buzzy beauty ingredients, there'south one famous (or infamous, depending on your worldview) actor found in a slew of beauty products just isn't e'er referred to equally the good guy. Enter, dimethicone. Information technology sounds science-y (notation: It is), and chances are if you do a quick Google search, yous'll find a ton of conflicting information that volition leave you lot a bit unsure.

Should you steer clear of this ingredient altogether or hoard every product that has information technology listed on the label? (Spoiler: While not harmful, nosotros believe y'all should treat it with caution.)

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Below, nosotros tapped experts to get to the bottom of the dimethicone debate.

In This Article

What is dimethicone?

According to cosmetic chemists Victoria Fu and Gloria Lu, founders of Chemist Confessions, dimethicone is a type of silicone. "Information technology can come in diverse polymer sizes and range from a thin fluid to a thick and gooey consistency," they say. They go on that it's ofttimes used to assist create an elegant formula that feels neat on the peel (and hair).

Board-certified dermatologist Dendy Engelman, G.D., agrees: "It'south popularly used in hair and peel care products as a smoothing and occlusive ingredient," she says. "You may be able to recognize the presence of dimethicone in your products by the silky-smooth texture that information technology adds." Essentially, information technology helps the formula to feel and perform more than luxuriously.

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Why is dimethicone in my skin care products?

The main reason? Texture, texture, texture. Soft, polish, and silky texture makes a skin care product super appealing, and information technology makes the experience of using information technology more, well, luxurious and enjoyable.

Engelman says it'south also used to create a protective barrier on the pare that blocks external agents like arid air and pollutants from reaching the peel while locking in moisture. In fact, i study found that a bulk of peel intendance products use dimethicone for its moisturizing capabilities—while it doesn't deliver any benefits from a pare-health perspective, per se, it forms an occlusive layer to keep moisture in and helps keep the surface of the skin soft and smoothen.

Why is dimethicone in my hair intendance products?

When information technology comes to hair intendance, this silicone is a powerhouse at detangling and smoothing. "Dimethicone smooths downwards and binds the cuticles to the hair strand and gives the pilus a silky texture and polish," Engelman says. (A coveted hair goal, no?) Not to mention, it's pretty inexpensive to formulate with—so it's no surprise that it'due south a popular ingredient among a broad range of pilus care formulas.

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Is it bad for skin and hair?

There's lots of talk about the proficient, bad, and ugly of including silicones like dimethicone in your beauty routine. And the truth is: Not all silicones are created equal. See, some silicones (cyclosiloxanes D4 and D5, specifically) are shown to exist potentially hazardous for human health and can also bioaccumulate in our h2o supply. But researchers were able to develop water-soluble silicones that are generally fine to employ: They are easier to remove, aren't as sticky of an occlusive, and don't bioaccumulate. Dimethicone falls into that latter category.

However, at that place are a few reasons even water-soluble silicones tin can get a bad rap—i of the most commonly cited is because of its occlusive backdrop.

For skin.

"Dimethicone is often accused of 'suffocating' skin," Fu and Lu say, which isn't always the example—for some, particularly those with drier skin types, locking in moisture is just what they need. (Of grade, natural oils can effectively do the aforementioned thing and simultaneously feed the skin with antioxidants, fat acids, and amino acids. Just a product with dimethicone can provide occlusive benefits.)

Although, Engelman adds that dimethicone tin irritate those with sensitive skin since silicones can cause irritation; and for those with acne-prone skin, it can create the perfect environment for breakouts. "Breakouts can occur when silicone builds up on the skin's surface and traps bacteria, dirt, and pollutants in, clogging your pores," Engelman warns. She continues that information technology can also interfere with natural processes like sweating and releasing unwanted dirt and leaner from the pores since it creates a film over the skin.

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For hair.

Every bit for the hair, Engelman says using silicones, similar dimethicone, can build up easily in the pilus and block water and nourishment from getting past the protective outer cuticle. This somewhen tin can make the hair dry and brittle, and information technology may even weigh the hair down and arrive announced flat. "Those with curly hair and fine hair should be careful of this," she warns.

Every bit Ron McLaughlin, vice president of research and development at Living Proof, previously told mbg near silicone buildup in hair care: "The obvious drawback of all this is that you end up with hair that gets weighed down or greasy, then you lot are more than likely to shampoo and style more often. This perpetuates what we phone call the bicycle of harm. The more you wash and style, the more damaged your hair is, so the more you will feel like you need to reach for a silicone to get that soft feeling again. Information technology'due south a vicious cycle."

And then, should y'all steer clear of dimethicone?

Well, it's difficult to say. Nosotros demand more inquiry to make the call, but all three experts concord that dimethicone is (generally) zippo to worry about, then long as you lot make sure you're properly cleansing your hair and skin to avoid buildup. "The amount of dimethicone in your beauty products is often very minimal and not harmful to the trunk," Engelman says. "Although an excess of this ingredient is not recommended, you don't demand to be alarmed if you see it in your products."

Fu and Lu add, from a formulator perspective, dimethicone is a bang-up ingredient to include for its silky texture: "It can help create a beautiful moisturizer suitable for oily skin types as well as create fantastic conditioners that really help to protect the pilus." Again, only be mindful that it can be hard to remove and causes buildup over time since it does create a film over the skin and pilus.

And if you do find that you're experiencing an allergic reaction or breakouts from this ingredient, information technology'southward probably all-time to avoid it and talk to your dermatologist or hairstylist.

There's besides the argument that the sort of things you put on your skin should be beneficial—instead of filler or sensorial additives. This is an statement we can certainly get behind, as in that location are many products out in that location formulated without silicones that employ occlusive materials with additional skin-supporting properties (things like natural oils and butters). Ultimately, the option is yours—and we just desire you to be informed about the things you lot put on your peel.

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The takeaway.

Hither'southward what nosotros know: Dimethicone can help peel and hair care products feel rich, smooth, and silky; locks moisture into the skin; and keeps knots and tangles at bay. However, its occlusive properties create a film over hair and peel, which tin can accrue and crusade buildup over fourth dimension. And if you lot have an adverse reaction to information technology, avoid the ingredient entirely until you talk to a dermatologist.

Source: https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/dimethicone

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