Dimethicone: The Truth Behind This Common Cosmetics Ingredient
You may have seen it on the ingredient list of your shampoo, conditioner, cream, lotion, foundation, or makeup primer—dimethicone. What is this ingredient, and should you avoid it?
What is Dimethicone?
Dimethicone is what the chemists like to call a silicon-based polymer—”polymer” meaning it’s a large molecule made up of several smaller units bonded together. Simply put, it’s a silicon oil, man-made in the laboratory and used in personal care products as an anti-foaming agent, skin protectant, and skin and hair conditioner.
Manufacturers like it because it makes products easily spreadable, so you get that feeling of the lotion or cream gliding over your skin. Dimethicone also helps form a protective barrier on the skin, and can fill in the fine lines and wrinkles on the face, which is why it’s often used in makeup primers.
Is Dimethicone Safe?
The FDA has approved the use of dimethicone as a skin protectant ingredient in over-the-counter products, and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) panel has assessed it as safe to use in personal care products. Some studies have found it to soothe and help improve chronic hand dermatitis, and to help reduce inflammation and irritation. The Skin Deep Database also lists it has have a low hazard risk.
For me, though, this is not a good ingredient to be using in your daily skin care. Like petroleum products, silicone oils can actually make dry skin worse over time. Instead of sinking into your skin and nourishing it from the inside out, like healthy ingredients do, it forms a sort of plastic-like barrier on the outside of skin.
Why Dimethicone is Bad for Your Skin
That artificial coating on the outside of skin causes several issues:
- It traps everything under it—including bacteria, sebum, and impurities—which could lead to increased breakouts and blackheads
- The coating action actually prevents the skin from performing its normal activities—like sweating, temperature regulating, sloughing off dead skin cells, etc.
- Prolonged exposure to dimethicone can actually increase skin irritation, due to the coating property and because dimethicone is listed as a possible skin and eye irritant
- Those with sensitive or reactive skin are at risk of an allergic reaction to dimethicone
- On top of all this, dimethicone is a non-biodegradable chemical—bad for the environment
I also believe that using these types of ingredients on your skin can actually exacerbate skin aging. Why?
- You’re inhibiting skin’s natural processes
- You’re creating a dependency on the coating product, disrupting the skin’s own hydrating processes, which in the end increases dryness, making fine lines and wrinkles more noticeable
- The coating properties may increase breakouts, particularly if you’re susceptible to acne, which will lead to scars and older-looking skin
- You’re doing nothing to boost the health and vitality of the skin, thus letting aging take its toll
Much better to use nourishing ingredients that help keep your skin hydrated naturally! (Speaking of, check out my new skin care line here!)
To avoid this ingredient, stay away from all dimethicone and similar ingredients like cyclomethicone, dimethiconol, and phenyl trimethicone.
What do you think of dimethicone? Has it caused you to break out? Please share.
Source
Fowler JF Jr., “Efficacy of a skin-protective foam in the treatment of chronic hand dermatitis,” Am J Contact Derm 2000 Sep; 11(3):165-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11012005?dopt=Abstract.
Dimethicone. Truth in Aging. January 1, 2006. http://www.truthinaging.com/ingredients/dimethicone.
Material Safety Data Sheet, Poly(dimethylsiloxane), May 14, 1999. http://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/95130.htm.
Photo courtesy kisluvkis via Flickr.com.
I did not know that this can actually make your skin more dry over time – great knowledge as always!
Wow, good to know!
I believe dimethicone is the cause of my allergy when I use some of my cosmetic products. My eyes start to tear and my nose runs. I am currently looking through all my makeup and other products and throwing out many things that have toxic chem’s. The FDA is a joke it they approve this and other toxic chemicals. All about $$$
Dimethicone – in skin care products eh – I just discovered that one of the ingredients in Tropicana Trop50 is none other than Dimethicone! What is a skin care product doing in our food????
Hi, Linda. Unsettling, isn’t it? Actually, there are many ingredients that are used in our skin care products and in our food—and even in industrial applications. Yuck, right? But since dimethicone is also an “antifoaming agent,” it’s used in processed foods and fast-foods. Last I heard, McDonald’s was using it in Chicken McNuggets. The ingredient is also used in industrial lubricants. The FDA says this ingredient is safe in foods, but it’s essentially a silicone oil. I’d say drink real orange juice instead!
I have some issues with various face cosmetic products causing me to break-out. I started doing some research and Dimethicone appears to be a common theme in all the products that caused me to break-out. At least now I can watch for that ingredient when buying face creams.
about 4 months ago my usual foundation Forever Makeup HD) started to make me break out. I thought…,,I will switch to a “healthier” brand with lots of “non-comedogenic” ingredients. Without bothering to do any research switched to Clinique. The problem only got worse. Started researching the dimethicone and silicone ingredients and found that almost all foundations have them unless they are organic. Even my moisturizer from the body shop (an anti acne one) has it. So i switched to Juice Beauty foundation and one of their moisturizers. This was after quitting using the clinique about two weeks ago and going foundation free (SCREAMS OF TERROR) till the order arrived in the mail.
My skin is like new skin. Soft, bright, all 50 of the comedones on my forehead totally gone.
My red patches on my cheeks – gone. My skin actually reflects the light and looks vibrant and lovely. Very surprised about such a common ingredient being so detrimental. Thank you for the info.
Nancy, I love your story! Thanks for writing in. “Screams of terror”—hilarious! You’re so right—it’s so difficult to find foundations and even lotions these days without dimethicone. Crazy! I’m so glad you stuck with it and found a brand that doesn’t cover your skin with this clogging ingredient. Thanks again for letting us know about your experience!
I have researched dimethicone a lot after I heard from Nicole Weider, a model, that it causes acne. I stopped using products with dimethicone & I have clearer skin!
Hi, Ann. Thanks for letting us know! It’s difficult to avoid dimethicone these days, but definitely worth it if you want clear skin and fewer acne breakouts.
Im in the uk and have just had a sever reaction to this ingredient in nit rid lice lotion, my face is huge like a hair dye allergy. My neck is huge, sore throat, chest pain, i am now on medication.
If we all avoided everything on the market that caused a reaction in somebody, there wouldn’t be anything left we could use/consume. With proper washing and exfoliation, there’s no reason why dimethicone would prohibit any significant normal skin functions. It’s used in such minute amounts, that it isn’t a problem, unless one has a particular, personal sensitivity/allergy to it – like, say, tomatoes…
I appreciate your opinion, Jaelin. Yes, I’m sure many people do fine with dimethicone. The problem is that manufacturers rarely if ever tell us of the possible side effects or complications associated with certain ingredients before putting them in their products. I’ve heard from many consumers and from many other sources about problems with dimethicone, particularly for those with acneic and sensitive skin. There are other issues as well that can affect the outcome—such as what other ingredients are present in the formula. My mission is to inform people of what they’re using so they can make their own choices. I’ve heard from several readers that after stopping their use of dimethicone, their acne cleared up. For those that benefit, I’m happy to provide the information.
This is very helpful. Thank you
I used to be clueless and a naive purchaser when it came to skincare items and make-up but now I do tons of research and always look at the ingredients. I avoid skincare with any of those “cones” and also anything w/alcohol or alcohol denat. – for me the alcohol just causes my skin to get dry and break out. I noticed a lot of “popular” products have bad ingredients – people love to rave how their skin feels so soft and smooth….I am just thinking it is the silicone crap making you think your skin feels so smooth. It’s all fake. I laugh at some of the high end brands that sell $400+ face creams and the 2nd ingredient is some type of silicone or especially the cheap mineral oil! If I am going to pay that much there better not be cheap oil in it – seriously?!!
I have a terrible allergy to dimethcone for years I’ve suffered.Please tell me what makeup I can use that doesn’t have this horrible ingredient in it?
Hi there
Thanks for sharing ! After almost ten different products?makeup,skincare,shampoo etc).I just realized it’s not my acne prone skin react to everything but the silica or Dimethicone!Even the safest option Origins mega mushroom serum makes me break out ! Just couldn’t avoid these kind of ingredients these days! One question : Apart from the product contains silica or dimethicone which made me broke out , there’s still some products I am current using which have these ingredients but didn’t cause acne. Should I keep using it or avoid these at all? Thank you so much ?
Hi, Celine. It gets complicated, doesn’t it? My guess is that some of your products may contain more dimethicone than others, which may be why your skin is reacting differently. Different formula combinations can also react differently with your skin. With acneic skin, you also have to be careful with the base of the product—thicker bases are more likely to clog pores, for example.
My experience is that if a product makes you break out once, it probably will again, so I would just avoid those that cause you problems. My recommendation would be to start clean—go very simple in your products. Choose a fragrance-free cleanser, try witch hazel as a toner, then use a light moisturizer with natural ingredients. Exfoliate regularly (2-3 times a week), but not with scrubs while the acne is active, and consider acids at low percentages like lactic, salicylic and glycolic. (I love the Exfoliating Mask by Indie Lee.) You may also want to look at your diet. A clean diet (minus a lot of sugar, high glycemic foods and unhealthy fats like omega 6s and trans fats) can also help you clear up acne. Adding omega 3 fatty acids (in walnuts, salmon, sardines and in supplements) is critical to calm down the inflammation, and it’s the good fat you want to eat for your health, anyway!
Otherwise, stay tuned—I’m going to have a post soon strictly on solving acneic skin!
Hi, Judy. I feel for you! Dimethicone-free is hard to find! I would suggest my post that guides you to safe places to shop. (http://cincovidas.com/where-do-i-find-safer-products/) Then just be sure to read the ingredient list. Some brands to get you started include Sephora Collection Silicone Free Foundation Primer, Skin Prep Organic Vegan Dimethicone Free Makeup Primer, and Sappho Organic Cosmetics. Good luck!
Hi, Nicolle. I loved reading your comment. I was just like you before I realized how damaging so many of the chemical ingredients in our everyday skin care products could be. You’re so right that a lot of the supposed “benefits” of these products are fake, with ingredients meant to fool us into thinking the product is really helping our skin. I’m so glad you’re being careful about what you purchase. Keep spreading the word and we can make a change in the industry, I’m sure of it!
With all these chemicales in our food , in our personal higine products and not knowing what were putting in our bodies and on our skin .No wonder theres so many new disease these days without any cures
I was diagnosed with a sensitivity to Dimethicone years ago, via patch test, at a dermatologist’s office. In attempting to respond to this diagnosis by buying dimethicone-free lotions, creams and cosmetics, I was shocked at how difficult it is to locate beauty and personal care products that do not contain some form of this ingredient. I was further dismayed to realize that brands marketed to people with problem skin, such as Aveno, Eucerine and Lubriderm, all contain significant quantities of Dimethicone, as do most cosmetics.
In all these years, I have found only a tiny percentage of drugstore-accessible products that do not contain this ingredient, and common to most of them is that they are older, classic formulations such as Ponds Dry Skin Cream and CoverGirl Clean Makeup for Normal Skin, a liquid foundation that has also been around for many years. The only body lotion I know of without Dimethicone is U-Lactin Therapeutic Body Lotion, which is helpful in that it contains Urea and Lactic Acid to deliver better-than-average skin softening properties. On the other hand, short of foregoing makeup entirely, I just can’t seem to avoid Dimethicone entirely, especially at the mass market level. In closing, I wish that products labeled as “hypoallergenic” did not mislead so many people due to the inclusion of this potentially irritating ingredient.
Thank you for spreading awareness of this ubiquitous ingredient.
I used redefine eye cream and noticed my eyes red and watery, which I didn’t realize it was the cream. I was out of the cream for about 5 weeks and just got it today and within 20 mins of using it my eyes started to bother me, and now I know it’s the cream. I looked up the ingredients and am not happy with the result, I have found this information very helpful, and will refer my friend to it.
Thanks
Hi, Dlynn. Thank you so much for sharing your story. Amazing that you were actually diagnosed with a sensitivity to this ingredient. A good lesson for the rest of us—sometimes we should really put these things to the test! Yes, unfortunately so many of our drugstore products seem to want to use chemical ingredients that “fake” the look of skin softness, instead of giving us the nutrients that would really improve the health and feel of the skin. The best thing we can do is use our dollars to influence the market. Please see my post on where to buy safer products and I think you’ll find more options, but you may be relegated to shopping online until the market changes. (http://cincovidas.com/where-do-i-find-safer-products/)
Hi,
Thanks so much for your article on this product.
I’ve made my own skincare products for over 5 years and have always used very small amounts (less than 1/2 %) of dimethicone. It provides a gorgeous feeling lotion and great protection from my swims in a chlorinated pool. My skin is absolutely lovely and clear and I’ve never had any problems with breakouts or reactions and to my knowledge, neither have any of my friends, family and customers so far.
Of course reactions are possible, which is why anything new going on your skin should be patch tested first.
For those who are allergic or just prefer not to have products that contain dimethicone, there are lots of alternatives including using just pure oils.
Sarah
Hi, Sarah. Thanks for writing in. You bring up a good point that some products have more dimethicone than others—those who are sensitive may want to see where it lands on the ingredient list. Closer to the top means there’s more of it.
I recently experienced a huge outbreak of eczema after using a face primer with dimethicone as its first ingredient. Initially, I was reluctant to believe that the cause of my problem could be the primer, knowing that dimethicone is so widely used in cosmetics and in anti-dermatitis lotions. It is approved by the FDA and it is listed as low concern in the EWG database. But upon retrying, after my skin had calmed down, just on a little patch, I again experienced tightness and extreme dryness of my skin in the area. I had a hard time finding confirmation of my findings on the web until I came across this website. Needless to say I will be avoiding dimethicone in any cosmetics product from now on.
What a great testimonial to the damage that dimethicone can do. And you bring up a good point that other readers have also noticed—where the ingredient shows up on the list can tell you a lot. That dimethicone was first lets you know that there was a good amount in the formula, so that likely contributed to the issue for you.
It can be difficult, but you can find products that don’t use dimethicone. The Korres face primer is completely free of all silicones, and may be something you want to try. Good luck in finding alternatives—if you come upon some great ones, please share them with our readers!
Do you have any scientific data to back up your claims?
Hi, Michelle. Please note the sources I listed at the end of the article for scientific support on the claims, particularly the study in the American Journal of Contact Dermititis.
I read all ingedients in every product I put on my face because I learned the hard way that I absolutely CANNOT use anything with dimethicone in it. It breaks me out in huge acne cysts and clogs my pores something terrible. I have had people recommend to me (at makeup counters) that it won’t bother me with acne, and I always look at them and say, “Well, I have research skills, since I am a PhD (which I am), and I know for a fact that acne is caused by products that clog your skin, and dimethicone is one of those.” That usually shuts them up. This product, in my opinion, is toxic and I can’t believe that the FDA approved it in the first place.
Also, as far as the Korres face primer, I looked up the ingredients and it is full of oil. I can’t use oil on my face either. I just use spring water for a moisturizer and that’s enough. I used to get cysts that got infected and they would come back if I used any oil on my face, especially on a regular basis.
Thanks for your input, Janice. I’m sure there are many people out there with oily skin like yours that just can’t handle the dimethicone. It’s difficult as there are so many products now with the ingredient in it. Makes doing our own research all the more important!
This is just your opinion. Please provide your research information. Your sources listed are not saying that Dimethicone is bad.
Hi, Jesse. I invite you to do some research yourself if you disagree with me. You have a right to your opinion, of course, but my research has shown that dimethicone is a silicone product that coats the skin. That means that it can clog pores, encouraging acne (as you can see by our readers’ comments), and it does little to nourish or improve skin’s health and condition. Applied daily, it can gradually worsen the condition of skin. I much prefer truly nourishing ingredients, like those I have in CV Skinlabs products.