Overall, dimethicone can improve the feel, shelf life, and even efficacy of other ingredients in skin care products. To put it into detail, it can be expressed as:
Create a silky texture: The main reason silicones, including dimethicone, are used in skin care products is that they make the experience of using the product more pleasant. The tactile feel of the application experience is smoother, giving the product a lightweight texture that is non-greasy and can be applied quickly.
Seal and Hydrate: Dimethicone is occlusive, which means it forms a waterproof film on the skin to seal and hydrate and prevent external irritants and pollutants from invading the skin’s surface. It forms a barrier on the skin to prevent transepidermal water loss. (This is also a characteristic of silicone that is often misunderstood and criticized.)
Non-comedogenic: Although it is occlusive, dimethicone is non-comedogenic. It’s typically an oil-free formula that provides long-lasting hydration without clogging pores. But most products on the market cause irritation not because of the ingredient, but because of the ingredient in combination with other ingredients or directly other ingredients.
Oil control: This ingredient is often used in facial products, especially cosmetics. It can evaporate sweat and control the shine of oily skin to prevent the formation of large oil fields.
Improves product absorption efficiency: It can help seal in skin moisture, making other ingredients in the product more effective in the process.
Protects the skin: It acts as a skin protector against external moisture and irritating ingredients that can lead to contact dermatitis.
Improve skin texture: Another magical feature of this ingredient is that it can fade fine lines on the face and give the skin a smooth and soft texture, which is why it often appears in makeup primers.
Emollient: As an emollient, dimethicone softens and soothes the skin and is lighter and non-greasy than other similar ingredients.
