Dimethicone Copolyol

Safety Information

United States (U.S.)

The safety of dimethicone copolyols has been assessed by the Expert Panel on Ingredient Safety. The 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 Expert Panel considered available new data on dimethicone copolyols and reaffirmed the above conclusion.

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.

European Union (EU)

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 Union.

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

Resources

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EU Cosmetics Inventory

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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. 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.

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.

Why Is It Used?

The following functions have been reported for the dimethicone colpolyols.

Anticaking agent – peg/ppg-15/15 dimethicone
EmulsionA mixture of two liquids that normally cannot be mixed, in which one liquid is dispersed in the other liquid as very fine droplets. Emulsifying agents are often used to help form the emulsion and stabilizing agents are used to keep the resulting emulsion from separating. The most common emulsions are oil-in-water emulsions (where oil droplets are dispersed in water) and water-in-oil emulsions (where water droplets are dispersed in oil). stabilizer – peg/ppg-20/23 dimethicone, peg/ppg-23/6 dimethicone
Film former – peg-7 dimethicone
Hair conditioning agent – 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 modifier – peg/ppg-20/23 dimethicone, peg/ppg-23/6 dimethicone
Surface modifier – peg/ppg-20/23 dimethicone, peg/ppg-23/6 dimethicone
Surfactant – 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.

Dimethicone copolyol is a polymer 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.