Phenyl Trimethicone is a silicone used by skincare brands as an occlusive and conditioning agent. It contributes to a product’s silky texture and feel on the skin.
If you struggle with dry skin and hair, this is the best ingredient for you because of its thick, sticky, and semi-fluid consistency.
Here we explore the biggest questions about this silicone, so that you what it is and how to use it.
Table of Contents
What Exactly Is This Product?
Phenyl Trimethicone is a non-water-soluble silicone used in cosmetics and skincare products. Also known as Polyphenylmethylsiloxane, it is a derivative of silica, which is a natural component of quartz and opal.
It also contains a synthetic ingredient that has multiple units of siloxane, a compound of silicon and oxygen.
Silicones like Phenyl Trimethicone are also called polysiloxanes, and they have low surface tension, which helps with skin redness and irritation. This makes them popular ingredients in skincare products.
Which Beauty Products Contain Phenyl Trimethicone?
You can find this silicone in cosmetics, personal care products, beauty products, sunscreens, and texture enhancing products. In these items, it can function as an anti-foaming agent, hair-conditioning agent, and as skin-moisturizing agent.
You can also find it in the composition of antiperspirants, where it works to prevent the formation of white spots on the skin.
What Is The Product Good For?
Phenyl Trimethicone has many cosmetic capabilities!
It improves the texture of damaged hair, enhancing the hair texture and improving the look and feel of the hair. This is why the property is widely used in hair sprays and other hair products.
As an insoluble ingredient, it is also water-repellant, maintaining its effect on your hair even in the rain! It also:
- Conditions hair
- Smoothes and reduces frizz
- Protects hair from friction
- Provides heat protection
- Protects hair from UV rays
Not only is it good for your hair, but it also has various benefits for your skin:
- It has UV filters that increase the SPF in skincare products
- It reduces the tackiness and stickiness in creams and lotions
- Locks moisture into your skin, keeping it supple and well-hydrated
- Ensures that the product absorbs and spreads thoroughly into your skin to form a protective barrier.
For both skin and hair, this silicone increases hydration. It prevents water from evaporating and also retains oxygen, nitrogen, and other nutrients in the skin and hair.
How To Find Beauty Ingredients That Contain This Ingredient
The best way to use it is by finding silicone products where it comes up as an ingredient.
This includes products such as wrinkle face creams, body lotions, makeup foundations, hair gels, hair serums, heat-protecting hair creams, sunscreens, and hair shampoos and conditioners.
Look at the product’s ingredient list to check whether it is available.
You can also look for the words that end with ‘-cones,’ ‘-conols,’ ‘-silane,’ and -siloxane, as these refer to the presence of silicones in the product.
General Phenyl Trimethicone FAQs Answered
Is It Safe To Use?
Yes, it is an entirely safe cosmetic ingredient as long as you use it in moderation (i.e., it’s not highly concentrated in products).
In fact, this ingredient enhances skin and hair safety and protection as it increases the SPF content of a product and can help dissolve UV filters.
It also protects the skin and hair from moisture and nutrient loss by forming a barrier on the surface.
Does It Have Any Side Effects?
Although it is considered a safe ingredient, silicone compounds can be toxic if ingested and, sometimes, when injected.
A bad reaction to silicon can cause build-up on and drying of the hair.
It could also create a film so that water and moisture do not penetrate to nourish the skin.
Summary
To end off, this is an excellent conditioning agent for hair and skin. In cosmetics & personal care products, it acts as an anti-foaming agent, sunscreen element, and moisturizing and conditioning agent.
The non-water-soluble silicone slows the loss of water by forming a barrier on the skin’s surface and functioning as a conditioning agent, contributing to products’ silky textures and feel on the skin. In haircare, it provides heat resistance and enhances the appearance, moisture, and texture of hair.
It is a safe and multi-functional ingredient for use in cosmetic products.