Dimethicone

Dimethicone is a synthetic organosilicon polymer most commonly known as polydimethylsiloxane. It appears as a colorless, odorless, tasteless viscous liquid with excellent hydrophobicity and chemical stability. Widely used in cosmetics and personal care products such as moisturizers, sunscreens, shampoos, conditioners, makeup primers/foundations, and scar gels due to its ability to form a protective barrier on the skin or hair surface without clogging pores or causing irritation. In medical settings it serves as an antifoaming agent or carminative in gastrointestinal preparations. Its primary function is physical—providing moisture retention by reducing transdermal water loss and protecting against external irritants—rather than acting through any biological receptor-mediated mechanism. Toxicological studies indicate that dimethicone is extremely safe for human use with no evidence of mutagenicity or carcinogenicity; however, its poor biodegradability raises environmental concerns regarding accumulation.[1][2][3][4]

Other names

PolydimethylsiloxanePDMSDimethylpolysiloxaneMethyl silicone oilSilicone fluidDimeticone[1][2][3][7]