Dimethicone | Is It Safe + What to Know

My personal take:
➡️ not a black and white ingredient
➡️ depends heavily on the type + how it’s used
➡️ I’m okay with certain forms in makeup, but not all uses

Quick overview.... full breakdown below ⬇️

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Dimethicone is a quick no for some people because it is a man made silicone based agent (sure, I get why this bothers people)

Over time, I’ve learned I’m okay with certain synthetic ingredients when there’s solid safety data behind them.

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel compiled all of the available data for the different types of dimethicone from over 100 independent studies in a comprehensive, evidence‑based report.....

The result: single polymer dimethicone sits on top of the skin due to its molecular weight, but it’s not something I’d want to inhale.

For me, this means:

✅ I’m okay with it in makeup (foundation, primer, concealer)
❌ I don’t recommend it in skincare
❌ I avoid crosspolymer forms
❌ I don’t recommend it in loose powders (inhalation risk)

Dimethicone, for me, is safe when it is single polymer dimethicone in makeup ONLY ✅ Why? Because it sits on the face, it likely doesn't penetrate due to its larger molecular weight. (foundation, primer, concealer, etc)

SAFE (single polymer):
Dimethicone, stearyl dimethicone, triethoxycaprylylsilane

AVOID (crosspolymers):
crosspolymer dimethicone, PEG dimethicone variations, vinyldimethicone, etc

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I also broke this down over on Instagram if you want to see it visually HERE

If you want to keep digging, I’ve broken down a few other ingredients like this too.

Fluoride → HERE
Fragrance → HERE

Hi, I’m Destiny. 

I break down ingredients and share low-tox swaps in a simple, no-overwhelm way. I personally check every ingredient list before I share anything, so you can feel confident in what you’re choosing. Mom of 3, so I keep things realistic.

If you want to see what I use and recommend, you can browse my Top Picks here →