Breaking the Seal: The Real Chemistry of Silicone  

Skin care professionals may have noticed more free advertising alongside everyday products in the grocery store, intended to steer customers towards or away from buying certain products. “Gluten-free,” “sugar-free,” and “phthalate-free” are popular buzzwords across the aisles.  

A popular claim in the skin care and cosmetics realm has become “silicone-free,” but why would the absence of silicone, a naturally abundant and harmless material on the planet, be marketed as a health benefit? Whether strolling on a grassy field or riding a dune buggy in the desert outside Dubai, people interact with silica. It is not a toxic, rare substance that needs to be avoided. It is important to understand the facts behind silicone and why unnecessary negative messaging has cropped up around it. 

SILICONE’S BEAUTY HISTORY

Silicone can come in many forms in the beauty industry. Four of ten products introduced in the 1990s included silicone in the formula. Since then, silica has received growing acceptance in dozens of personal care products. Many shampoos and beauty products include silicone. In shampoos, silicone smooths, detangles, and adds volume to hair. In skin products, it locks in moisture, soothes wounds, and smooths skin. 

There are contraindications to silicone use. For example, those with acne-prone skin can be more sensitive to the occlusive nature of silicone, but according to Medical News Today, “The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel concluded that silicone in skin care products, such as moisturizers and patches, is safe. Forms of silicone, such as dimethicone, do not interact with the epidermis, the upper layer of skin, and are therefore unlikely to penetrate the skin barrier.” Even in more invasive procedures, countless people retain silicone breast implants for decades with no problems. Of course, there is the odd complication, as there can be with any treatment, but complications tend to be sensationalized in the press, fueling the “bad silicone” fiasco.  

Reference

1. “Silicone for Skin: Uses, Benefits, Risks, and More.” Medical News Today. Accessed February 20, 2024. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/silicone-for-skin#safety.