What Is Dimethicone?
Dimethicone is a silicone-based polymer that is frequently used as a skin protectant in skincare products. The second most common moisturizing ingredient found in moisturizers after petrolatum, dimethicone has skin-conditioning properties and helps improve the skin’s softness and flexibility.
What is Dimethicone used for?
Dimethicone for skin contributes to the ‘slip’ or ‘glide’ felt upon the application of a product, helping to make it spread easily. With its silky texture, dimethicone coats the skin, helping to moisturise by reducing water loss. Dimethicone provides skin with softness and coverage—without feeling heavy.
Who should use dimethicone?
Gentle and non-comedogenic (when applied to clean skin), dimethicone is an effective moisturising ingredient for all skin types, including sensitive skin. As a skin protectant at certain levels, dimethicone is especially useful for those whose skin needs an additional barrier that helps prevent moisture from escaping. Dry, itchy and rough skin may benefit from skincare products that contain dimethicone. It prevents acne breakouts as it does not clog pores.
How is Dimethicone used?
Dimethicone can be found in cosmetic products such as ointments, creams, lotions, serums, sunscreens and lip balms. To reap its moisturising and skin-protectant benefits, use these products as directed in your skincare routines.
How does Dimethicone work?
Dimethicone forms a barrier on the skin that helps minimise water loss. Dimethicone in skincare also helps improve the skin’s smoothness and flexibility by filling gaps between the cells in the uppermost layer of the skin.
Can Dimethicone be used on the body?
Dimethicone is a gentle, effective moisturising ingredient for both the face and body. It helps provide long-lasting skin-smoothing benefits, ideal for areas prone to rough, dry skin such as knees, elbows, hands, and feet can skin conditions like eczema.
How can Dimethicone benefit different skin conditions?
Dimethicone is a skin-protecting silicone that forms a lightweight, breathable layer over the skin. This helps reduce moisture loss, shield skin from irritants and friction, and leave skin feeling smoother and more comfortable. It’s also widely considered non-comedogenic and is generally well tolerated, making it a common choice for sensitive or compromised skin.
- Dry skin: Helps lock in moisture and reduce flakiness by forming a protective barrier that limits water loss.
- Oily skin: Can smooth and “mattify” the look of shine without adding oil, helping skin feel softer and more balanced.
- Ageing skin: Helps temporarily soften the look of fine lines by smoothing the surface and improving hydration and suppleness.
- Acne-prone skin: Provides non-greasy comfort and barrier support without clogging pores, which can be helpful when skin is dry or irritated from breakout treatments.
- Sensitive skin: Helps protect against irritants and reduces the feeling of stinging or tightness by supporting the skin barrier.
- Psoriasis: Can help comfort very dry, thickened areas by reducing moisture loss and improving softness and flexibility.
- Radiation-affected skin: Can help protect fragile, sensitised skin by reducing friction and helping maintain moisture (use as directed by a healthcare professional during or after treatment).
DU’IT products with Dimethicone
