Ingredients

Dimethicone and Silicones

Written by Reviewed by the SYNC editorial team Published Last reviewed Editorial standards

Dimethicone and Silicones — a family of synthetic polymers used in skincare to improve texture, spreadability, and skin feel while forming a breathable, flexible film on the surface. Dimethicone is one of the most common silicones, valued for smoothing skin, softening the appearance of fine lines and pores, and helping reduce moisture loss.

Key points

  • Silicones like dimethicone create a smooth, silky slip that improves how products glide and feel on the skin.
  • They form a lightweight, semi-occlusive film that can help reduce water loss without a heavy or greasy feel.
  • Dimethicone is widely regarded as non-comedogenic and non-irritating, and is used in primers, moisturizers, and barrier products.
  • Silicones are cosmetically inert and do not 'suffocate' skin, though preferences vary and some users choose silicone-free formulas.

Frequently asked

Are silicones bad for your skin?

Current evidence indicates silicones such as dimethicone are generally safe, non-irritating, and non-comedogenic for most people, functioning as texture-enhancing and skin-smoothing ingredients.

Do silicones clog pores?

Dimethicone and similar silicones are typically considered non-comedogenic and form a breathable film, so they are not a common cause of clogged pores for most users.

Related topics

This is a foundational entry in the SYNC Skin Encyclopedia and is expanded over time. Educational information only — not medical advice.

Encyclopedia

Further reading

This entry was written and checked against the sources below. They are published by clinical and scientific bodies, they are listed most readable first, and each one opens in a new tab. They are background for the whole entry rather than footnotes to individual sentences.

  1. Amended Safety Assessment of Dimethicone, Methicone, and Substituted-Methicone Polymers as Used in Cosmetics Cosmetic Ingredient Review Regulatory and safety cir-safety.org
  2. Dimethicone, Methicone and Substituted-Methicone Polymer Ingredients CosmeticsInfo Regulatory and safety cosmeticsinfo.org
  3. Silicone in Dermatology: An Update PubMed Central Peer-reviewed, open access pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. Final report on the safety assessment of stearoxy dimethicone, dimethicone, methicone, amino bispropyl dimethicone, aminopropyl dimethicone, amodimethicone… PubMed Peer-reviewed (abstract) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  5. Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Crosspolymers as Used ... PubMed Peer-reviewed (abstract) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

SYNC does not publish medical advice. Nothing here replaces a consultation with a doctor or a pharmacist about your own skin.