Dimethicone Copolyol

What Is It?

Dimethicone Copolyol is a general term used for a group of polymers made from dimethicone and polyoxyethylene and/or polyoxypropylene. The following specific names for these polymers may be found on product labels: Dimethicone PEG-8 Adipate, Dimethicone PEG-8 Benzoate, Dimethicone PEG-7 Phosphate, Dimethicone PEG-10 Phosphate, Dimethicone PEG/PPG-20/23 Benzoate, Dimethicone PEG/PPG-7/4 Phosphate, Dimethicone PEG/PPG-12/4 Phosphate, PEG-3 Dimethicone, PEG-7 Dimethicone, PEG-8 Dimethicone, PEG-9 Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, PEG-12 Dimethicone, PEG-14 Dimethicone, PEG-17 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-3/10 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-4/12 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-6/11 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-8/14 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-14/4 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-15/15 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-16/2 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-19/19 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-20/6 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-20/15 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-20/20 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-20/23 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-20/29 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-22/23 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-22/24 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-23/6 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-25/25 Dimethicone and PEG/PPG-27/27 Dimethicone. In cosmetics and personal care products, Dimethicone Copolyols are used in the formulation of hair sprays, wave sets, hair conditioners, shampoos, shaving products, and some makeup and skin care products.

Why Is It Used?

The following functions have been reported for the Dimethicone Colpolyols.

Anticaking agentIngredients or processing aids that prevent powdered or granular substances from forming clumps. – PEG/PPG-15/15 Dimethicone
Emulsion stabilizerIngredients that help to keep an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components. – PEG/PPG-20/23 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-23/6 Dimethicone
Film formerIngredients that dry to form a thin coating on the skin, hair or nails. – PEG-7 Dimethicone
Hair conditioning agentIngredients that enhance the appearance and feel of hair, by increasing hair body, suppleness, or sheen, or by improving the texture of hair that has been damaged physically or by chemical treatment. – Dimethicone PEG-8 Adipate, PEG-3 Dimethicone, PEG-8 Dimethicone, PEG-9 Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, PEG-12 Dimethicone, PEG-14 Dimethicone, PEG-17 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-20/23 Dimethicone Skin conditioning agent – emollient – Dimethicone PEG-8 Adipate Skin conditioning agent – miscellaneous – PEG-3 Dimethicone, PEG-8 Dimethicone, PEG-9 Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, PEG-12 Dimethicone, PEG-14 Dimethicone, PEG-17 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-20/23 Dimethicone Skin conditioning agent – occlusive – Dimethicone PEG-8 Benzoate, Dimethicone PEG/PPG-20/23 Benzoate
Slip modifierIngredients that help other substances to flow more easily and more smoothly, without reacting chemically. – PEG/PPG-20/23 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-23/6 Dimethicone
Surface modifierSubstances that are added to other cosmetic ingredients to make those ingredients either attract or repel water. – PEG/PPG-20/23 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-23/6 Dimethicone
SurfactantAn ingredient that helps two substances that normally do not mix to become dissolved or dispersed in one another. Also called a surface active agent. – cleansing agent – Dimethicone PEG-7 Phosphate, Dimethicone PEG-10 Phosphate, Dimethicone PEG/PPG-7/4 Phosphate, Dimethicone PEG/PPG-12/4 Phosphate
Surfactant – emulsifying agent – Dimethicone PEG-7 Phosphate, Dimethicone PEG-10 Phosphate, Dimethicone PEG/PPG-7/4 Phosphate, Dimethicone PEG/PPG-12/4 Phosphate, PEG/PPG-3/10 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-4/12 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-6/11 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-8/14 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-14/4 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-15/15 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-16/2 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-19/19 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-20/6 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-20/15 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-20/20 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-20/29 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-22/23 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-22/24 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-25/25 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-27/27 Dimethicone Surfactant – solublizing agent – PEG/PPG-20/23 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-23/6 Dimethicone

Scientific Facts

Dimethicone Copolyols belong to a class of chemicals referred to as the silicones. Silicones are resistant to chemical, physical, biological and microbiological degradation within the realm of preparation, storage, and use in cosmetics and personal care products.

Safety Information

The safety of Dimethicone Copolyols has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient ReviewThe Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) was established in 1976 as an independent safety review program for cosmetic ingredients. The CIR Expert Panel consists of independent experts in dermatology, toxicology, pharmacolgy and veterinary medicine. The CIR includes participation by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the Consumer Federation of America. (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that the Dimethicone Copolyols were safe for use as cosmetic ingredients. In 2003, as part of the scheduled re-evaluation of ingredients, the CIR Expert Panel considered available new data on Dimethicone Copolyols and reaffirmed the above conclusion.

CIR Safety Review: These polymers were, at most, slightly toxic when administered orally or dermally in a single dose. Dimethicone Copolyols were not primary skin or ocular irritants and gave no evidence of subchronic oral toxicity. Clinical studies showed that the Dimethicone Copolyols were neither primary skin irritants nor sensitizers when tested at a 100% concentration. Dimethicone Copolyols may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Regulation of the European UnionUnder the general provisions of the cosmetics regulation of the EU, ingredients appearing on the following function-specific annexes must comply with the listed restrictions and/or specifications: colorants (Annex IV), preservatives (Annex V), UV filters (Annex VI) and other ingredients with specific concentration limits and/or other restrictions (Annex III). Ingredients specifically prohibited from use in cosmetic products are listed in Annex II. Other ingredients listed in the EU cosmetic ingredient database (CosIng) may be used without restrictions..

Link to the EU Cosmetic Regulation:
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/consumers/product_labelling_and_p…

More Scientific Information

Dimethicone Copolyol is a polymerA naturally occurring or synthetic molecule made up of repeating units called monomers. of dimethylsiloxane with polyoxyethylene and/or polyoxypropylene side chains. The numbers indicate the average number of moles of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide. In cosmetics and personal care products, Dimethicone Copolyols function primarily as surfactants – emulsifying agents. They are also used to improve wetting characteristics of skin lotions, shave formulations, aerosol shave creams, and shampoos.

Resources

Search the Code of Federal Regulations http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm

EU Cosmetics Inventory http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/