FRIGHTFUL 15: #2 DIMETHICONE/SILOXANES

DIMETHICONE/SILOXANES

What Is It and Why in Skincare and Personal Care Products?

Dimethicone, one of the most popular siloxanes, is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.  It is a silicon based polymer compound commonly referred to as a silicone.  It is widely used in medical devices, foods, shampoos, moisturizers, makeup and other skin care products.  In personal care products dimethicone is used to:

1.       Decrease foam when products are shaken.

2.       Condition hair to enhance its appearance and feel.

3.       Condition and smooth the skin by forming a skin barrier to reduce water loss.

4.       Temporarily protect the skin.

5.       Provide a smooth product application.

Dimethicone claims to fill in uneven skin texture, fine lines and wrinkles. (Sounds a lot like paint spackle to me!)  Other names you may see on labels include: methicone, phenyltrimethicone, cyclomethicone, dimethiconol, dimethicone copolyol. They are generally considered safe by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)….. but are they? 

So What’s So Bad?

Silicones provide a coverage to the skin that may give a smoother appearance.  This coverage may help keep moisture in the skin.  Along with trapping moisture, it also traps bacteria and dead skin cells.  These non-biodegradable compounds interfere with the skin’s natural ability to “breathe” and regulate body temperature.  Sweat, oil, bacteria and dead skin cells are trapped – all fuel for skin irritation, black heads, blemishes and acne. One or two applications may not seem a problem, but continued use may lead to major skin issues.  

Due to the hormone disrupting aspect, dimethicone also has been linked to human fertility impairment.  It has been suggested If trying to conceive, avoid dimethicone.  Why? Where’s the connection?

Dimethicone is produced from cyclotetrasiloxane (D4) and cylcopentasiloxane (D5) and contains residual amounts of D4 and D5.  Environment Canada concluded that D4 and D5 are toxic, persistent, and have the potential to bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms.  In other words, there is an absorption of this toxins faster than these toxins can be eliminated.  Also, the European Union classifies D4 as a hormone disruptor, based on evidence that it interferes with human hormone function, and a possible reproductive toxicant that may impair human fertility. (Source: https://davidsuzuki.org/living-green/dirty-dozen-siloxanes/)

VERDAUD does not contain dimethicone or any other silicones or siloxanes.