Dimethicone, chemically known as polydimethylsiloxane, is a commonly used silicone compound in cosmetics.

Characteristics of Dimethicone in Cosmetics

• High Safety: Dimethicone is non - toxic, odorless, tasteless, and causes no irritation or allergic reactions to the skin. It ensures the safety and comfort of users and can be safely used in various cosmetics.
• Strong Compatibility: It has a high degree of compatibility with many cosmetic ingredients. It can be stably mixed with other raw materials without reacting, helping to protect the skin from harmful substances such as pigments and solvents.
• Multiple Skin - care Benefits: It has excellent UV - resistance properties, which can prevent damage to the skin from ultraviolet rays. It also has good gas permeability and antistatic properties, which can eliminate skin static electricity, prevent dust, and allow the skin to breathe freely.
• Improve Texture: It can enhance the extensibility of cosmetics on the skin, bringing a brisk use experience and a good stretching effect. It makes the application of cosmetics smooth and improves the product texture.

Applications of Dimethicone in Cosmetics

• Skin - care Products: In face creams and lotions, dimethicone forms a protective film on the skin surface to prevent water loss and play a moisturizing role. It can also be used in sunscreen products, helping to evenly disperse the sunscreen agents, enhance the sunscreen effect, and at the same time make the product feel more refreshing.
• Hair - care Products: Added to shampoos and conditioners, dimethicone can adsorb on the hair surface, fill in the damaged areas of the hair cuticles, making the hair smooth, soft, and easy to comb. It can also reduce friction between hairs, preventing split ends and tangles.
• Color Cosmetics: In foundations and powder compacts, dimethicone helps to disperse pigments, making the makeup more uniform and adherent, and improving the durability of the color cosmetics. In lipsticks, it can increase the moisturizing degree and gloss of the product, making the lips fuller and smoother.

Viscosity Selection of Dimethicone for Cosmetics

• Low Viscosity (1cst - 10cst): It can immediately eliminate the sticky feeling, has good compatibility with oils and alcohols, leaves no residue on the skin after volatilization, and has no cooling sensation. It has good combability, extensibility, and silkiness, and can be quickly absorbed. It is suitable for products that need to be quickly absorbed and are refreshing and non - sticky, such as lightweight lotions, toners, antiperspirants, and hair sprays. 1cst methyl silicone oil can also be used as a low - molecular - weight volatile carrier, especially suitable for skin - care products in winter and cold regions, which can better protect the skin.
• Medium Viscosity (50cst - 500cst): Taking 500cs as an example, in cosmetics, it can provide good lubricity and moisturizing properties, helping to improve the skin feel of the product. Dimethicone of this viscosity range has good extensibility and adhesion on the skin, and is often used in products such as face creams, lotions, and foundations. It can make the product smoother when applied, and at the same time provide moderate moisturizing effects without being too greasy.
• High Viscosity (1000cst and above): High - viscosity dimethicone has better film - forming properties. It can form a more durable and tough protective film on the skin or hair surface, providing stronger moisturizing and protective effects. 1000cs dimethicone has relatively poor fluidity, but it is used in some special skin - care products, such as night repair creams and lip balms, which can maintain moisture for a long time. Even higher - viscosity dimethicone, such as 12500cst and above, can be used in hair sprays, mousses, and other products that require high - degree styling, helping to maintain the durability of the hairstyle.

In conclusion, dimethicone plays an important role in the cosmetics field due to its unique properties. When choosing the viscosity of dimethicone for cosmetics, factors such as the type of product, expected efficacy, user experience, and the needs of the target consumer group need to be comprehensively considered to achieve the best product performance and user experience.