What does dimethicone do for skin?

How does dimethicone work?

Dimethicone is an occlusive, a surface barrier ingredient that reduces water evaporating from the outer layer of skin. It can also fill gaps between cells in that layer, helping skin feel smoother and more flexible. Humectants, such as glycerin, do a different job by drawing water up to the outer layer; dimethicone helps slow its escape. It stays on the surface to slow water loss, a refreshingly literal line of work for an ingredient.1234

Dimethicone also gives products glide during application, one of the few skincare sensations with a job description. It is used in ointments, creams, lotions, serums, sunscreens and lip balms. Because it does not dissolve in water, it is also used in some water resistant skin care products.14

What does dimethicone do in moisturizer?

In a moisturizer, dimethicone is the occlusive part: it helps reduce moisture loss. Humectants draw water to the outer layer, while emollients soften skin by smoothing cracks in its surface. Many moisturizers combine all three classes, because hydration apparently needed a small team. The balance matters: dimethicone helps hold moisture in, but it does not replace the other jobs in a moisturizer.23

A 14 day trial followed 32 adults with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis, a form of eczema. Both moisturizer formulas contained dimethicone, humectants and emollients; one also included anti inflammatory ingredients such as allantoin and bisabolol. At day 14, the formula with those added ingredients had greater improvement in skin hydration. The result describes those complete moisturizer formulas, rather than a dimethicone only treatment.5

How do you use dimethicone?

1. 1Choose a finished product for the area and how dry your skin is. A gel or lotion is generally lighter for the face unless your skin is very dry; creams and ointments suit dry skin better than lotions.
2. 2Apply the moisturizer to clean skin, ideally right after washing or bathing while skin is still damp. Follow the directions for the finished product, since dimethicone is used in several product types.
3. 3Reapply based on dryness and the product directions. Very dry skin may need an occlusive moisturizer every couple of hours; slightly dry skin may need only a light moisturizer at night. Moisturizers generally work best with regular use, often two to three times per day.

Is dimethicone good for sensitive skin?

Dimethicone can form a barrier that helps reduce irritated skin. Sensitive skin can still burn or sting with moisturizers generally, including skin affected by eczema or rosacea; those reactions are not specific to dimethicone. Choose a fragrance free formula if fragrance irritates your skin. A brief reaction can happen with moisturizers, but stop using a product if a rash develops where you apply it. Tell a dermatologist if anything you apply causes burning, stinging or irritation.267

Can dimethicone clog pores?

CeraVe describes dimethicone as noncomedogenic when applied to clean skin. At the same time, occlusive moisturizers as a group can aggravate acne, so it is too broad to promise that every dimethicone formula suits every breakout prone face. If you tend to break out, choose a finished moisturizer labelled noncomedogenic and apply it to clean skin.126

Is dimethicone good for dry skin?

Dimethicone is a useful ingredient to look for in a moisturizer for dry skin because it slows water loss; it is also highlighted for dry hands. Creams and ointments generally add more moisture than lotions, while ointments give a longer lasting protective layer and can feel greasy. For the face, a gel or lotion is usually lighter unless your skin is very dry. Moisturizer effects are strongest in the first six hours after application, so regular use is often needed to maintain the benefit.237