Dimethicone is vegan. It is a synthetically produced silicone-based polymer. No animal-based ingredients are used to make the compound. Therefore, it’s cruelty-free and 100% vegan-friendly.
Dimethicone is the most commonly used silicone in cosmetics and skincare. But let’s find out, why.
What Is Dimethicone And How Is Dimethicone Made?
Dimethicone, also known as polydimethylsiloxane or PDMS, is a synthetical compound. It is a silicone, widely used in skincare, body care, and make-up. As well as personal use items like toys or other household items.
Dimethicone is clear, odourless and non-flammable. The synthetic polymer’s main ingredient is silica aka silicon dioxide. This is usually found in different types of sand. Also quartz, sandstone, or granite.
Silicones are also man-made ingredients. Dimethicone is made by heating silica with carbon to a very high temperature. So, the widely used ingredient is also vegan-friendly.
Dimethicone is safe to use on the skin and does not cause problems for human health. However, from an ecological point of view, the ingredient has a rather negative impact. It is not biodegradable.
This silicone has an advantage over other similar compounds. It is particularly easy and cheap to produce. Plus, the durability is comparatively high. This makes them an attractive ingredient for many products among manufacturers.
Why Is Dimethicone Used In Skincare?
Dimethicone is used in skin care because it has skin conditioning and skin protective features. It commonly occurs in primers, lotions, shampoos, and moisturizers.
In skincare products, dimethicone improves the texture of the products, as it makes them smoother. It also keeps the ingredients from separating. Dimethicone can also make the surface of the skin appear smoother.
However, the creams with dimethicone do not penetrate the skin. So, they do not contribute to the regeneration of damaged skin cells. Instead, they lie on the skin (occlusive) but do not change the complexion.
Products containing dimethicone are only penetrative with additional ingredients. Still, dimethicone forms a protective layer on the skin. Thus, it protects the skin from external factors.
Dimethicone does not pose any health concerns. However, it might lead to clogged pores because it’s not water-soluble and may stay on the skin for too long.
But the impact on the environment is far more worrisome. Silicones can end up in the wastewatera and the sewage treatment plants cannot completely filter the tiny silicones.
Thus, in addition to the groundwater, our drinking water is enriched with silicones too. This also increases the contamination of foods with silicones.
FAQ About Dimethicone
Yes, dimethicone is vegan. It is a synthetically produced silicone-based polymer. No animal-based ingredients are used to make the compound. So, it’s cruelty-free and 100% vegan-friendly.
Dimethicone is a man-made component and its main ingredient is silica aka silicon dioxide. This is usually found in different types of sand. Also quartz, sandstone, or granite.
Dimethicone is used in skin care because it has skin conditioning and skin protective features. It mostly occurs in emulsions, lotions, shampoos, and creams.
Summary
Dimethicone is a vegan skincare ingredient. It is a silicone that forms a protective layer on the skin. So it does not allow environmental factors to damage it.
However, it is a rather harmful ingredient for the environment. Nowadays, silicones are found in both groundwater and drinking water.
Most vegan brands avoid silicones in their products although silicones are vegan and safe for the skin. They use other vegan products made with alternatives. These are great for both — health and the Earth.
So, we recommend buying from 100% vegan brands to be sure of quality and composition. But if you want to avoid silicones, you could read the ingredients of the product just in case.
See also: Vegan Skincare Products
