INCI ingredient

Dimethicone

Also listed as: Polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS, Diméthicone, Dimëthicone

A silicone that smooths the skin surface and gives creams a silky feel.

What it triggers

Vegan originYesno animal source
FragranceNonot a perfume ingredient
ParabenNonot a preservative of this family
SulfateNonot a sulfate surfactant
SiliconeYesthis is a silicone
AlcoholNonot a drying alcohol

If a product lists Dimethicone, its silicone-free answer is No. Nothing else changes.

What it does

Dimethicone is a silicone oil. Formulators use it to make a cream spread easily, to leave skin feeling smooth, and to hold water in by sitting on the surface as a thin breathable film. It shows up in moisturisers, primers, sunscreens and conditioners, usually near the top of the list.

It is not an active. It does not treat anything, it does not feed the skin, and it is not derived from animals. Some people simply prefer to skip silicones, and regulators are reviewing certain other silicones such as D4 and D5, which are different molecules from this one.

Functions: emollient, skin conditioning