Is silicone harmful or not in cosmetics?

Silicone is present in 75% of chemical cosmetics, but for most people, it is only used to make breast implants by the chemical industry, very few know that it is also very present in almost all chemical beauty products.

Then anxiety is justified? Is it a health hazard? Or is it just an unfounded fear?

What is silicone?

It is a very popular substance in cosmetics, it's an ingredient that chemists use so often, in creams, skin serums, shampoos, and makeup... But there's also silicone in your kitchen tool, plumbing joints, car parts, toys for children, and breast prostheses...

How to recognize silicone?

It is easy to identify in the ingredients list because all silicones whose names end in -siloxane or -cone, eg Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polysiloxane...

 

Silicone: harmful to our health?

Rest assured, there is no danger to health except for 3 silicones which are under the supervision of the scientific committee for cosmetic safety, a group of experts from the European Commission.

Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclopentasiloxane, and Cyclopentasiloxane exhibit endocrine-disrupting properties and are classified as fertility poisons.

And for other silicones in cosmetics, is it good for your skin? The answer is not so simple...

Advantages of silicone in cosmetics

silikone dalam kosmetik

  1. First, silicone is not expensive as an ingredient.
  2. Second, the silicone creates a layer on your skin or your hair which gives an artificial feeling of softness. You feel your skin or hair becoming very soft very quickly. But this soft impression is not the softness of your skin or your hair, but the soft silicone deposited on it.

To better understand the phenomenon here are 2 photos viewed under a microscope, skin with and without silicone layer:

Epiderm skin seen under a microscope without silicone layer:

Epiderm skin seen under a microscope without silicone layer

Epiderm skin seen under a microscope with silicone layer:

Epiderm skin seen under a microscope with silicone layer

 The skin, pores, and wrinkles are covered by a silicone layer which is represented in dark gray in the 2nd picture.
Wonderful! Skin looks softer and smoother in minutes. Yes but ... it's not your skin that is soft and smooth but silicone.

Silicones make it possible to get the imitation sensation of smooth and soft skin within minutes, consumers are satisfied imagining that their skin is smooth and soft and producers are also satisfied because silicone is an effective and very cheap ingredient.

This technique is used in all chemical laboratories from cheap cosmetic brands to major luxury brands too!

So, what's the problem?

The problem is that silicones have an occlusive effect, that is,  the pores of the skin are clogged up, the consequences vary according to your skin type:

OIly skin:

Silicone prevents the skin from breathing and can clog pores which can eventually lead to acne breakouts.

Acne skin:

Silicone is the worst enemy of acne skin. Preventing your skin from breathing is probably one of the worst things to do with acne-prone skin.

Be wary of chemical makeup and, especially concealer with silicone which will help you in the short term to cover your acne but in the long term, it will increase your skin problems.

Dry skin

Dry skin has the opposite problem of oily skin. It is not the release of sebum that creates the problem, but the skincare ingredients cannot penetrate the epidermis to nourish and hydrate the skin. The silicone layer creates a smooth, soft finish, which is a short answer to dry skin issues. But in the long term, the skin remains dry and ages prematurely.

 

Preventive measure:

Now you understand that silicone for your skin is like caffeine for your brain, it's a short-term answer.

We advise you to avoid chemical silicone cosmetics and favor natural and organic products that will provide your skin with vitamins, antioxidants, and essential nutrients for the health of your skin.

What if your favorite product contains silicone?

So if you decide to continue using your favorite cosmetics that contain silicone, your goal is to limit the damage and not build up layers of silicone on your face.

You should try to alternate with organic products. For example, if you really like chemical foundations, then use an organic moisturizer, or vice versa if you like chemical moisturizers, then use an organic foundation, the goal is to prevent the build-up of silicone layers on your face.

There are 2 types of products we advise you to be very careful:

  1. Clean your face and remove make-up every day before going to bed is essential. Make sure you don't use any facial cleansers that contain silicone!
  2. Use an organic night cream because there is absolutely no point in cleaning your face well and then adding a layer of silicone just before going to bed. So, apply an organic night cream to let your skin breathe while you sleep.
 

For women who care about ecology:

Silicones are chemically highly resistant molecules. It takes 420 to 490 years to degrade. These products are consumed on a very large scale, their accumulation is a real threat to our environment.

 

Now you know everything about silicone in your cosmetics. We hope this information will be useful and informative.


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