Ingredient glossary
Dimethicone
On your shelf ✓What Dimethicone does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Dimethicone
In short: Dimethicone delivers barrier support and smoothing, suits most skin types, and the evidence behind it is strong.
- What it does
- Barrier support, smoothing
- Best for
- Most skin types
- Evidence
- Strong
- How long
- Straight away
What it actually is
The Glow take
One of the ingredients I trust most.
When your goal is repairing a stressed moisture barrier, Dimethicone delivers, and the research properly backs it up. Gentle enough that most skin types can reach for it.
— Maya
What it does
- barrier support
- smoothing
strong evidenceSupported by cosmetic chemistry literature for its assigned function, with fewer direct clinical outcome studies than hero actives.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
- dry
- normal
- sensitive
Approach with care
- acne prone if heavy
- Clogs poresLow
- Irritation riskLow
How it fits each skin type
- DrySuits
- CombinationSuits
- OilySuits
- SensitiveSuits
Take extra care if any of these apply to you: acne prone (in heavy layers).
Where it fits in your routine
This one works on contact — there is nothing to wait for.
What that covers, and what it does not
Measured on: reduction in transepidermal water loss and instantly smoother surface from the silicone film.
Dimethicone forms a continuous, semi-occlusive film on contact; the drop in evaporative water loss and the change in surface friction are both properties of the film, present at application. The multi-week studies that exist for dimethicone are a different question -- barrier creams at around 10% tested for preventing irritant hand dermatitis over weeks of occupational exposure, which times a prevention outcome, not the film. This row is scored as an emollient/occlusive, so the film is the right outcome to time.
No onset trial needed or cited; silicone film formation and its TEWL effect are measured routinely by instrumental methods. Occupational barrier-cream trials are a separate prevention endpoint.
Plays well with
- humectants
- ceramides
Dimethicone, answered
Is Dimethicone safe during pregnancy?
Yes. Dimethicone is considered safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. As with anything, if you are unsure it is worth a quick word with your doctor or midwife.
Who should avoid Dimethicone?
Approach Dimethicone with care if any of these apply to you: acne prone (in heavy layers).
What concentration of Dimethicone actually works?
Its concentration is rarely printed on the label, so use the ingredient list as your clue: near the top third it is likely doing real work, near the bottom it is more of a sprinkle.
This, for every label you own
One ingredient is easy. A full label is where it gets confusing. The Ingredient Decoder reads any product and tells you the honest truth, ingredient by ingredient.