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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES Learn more About EWG VERIFIED®

Data: Fair

Dimethicone

  • Products with this ingredient are allowed for use in EWG VERIFIED but must meet use restrictions and warnings based on EWG review of company data.
  • This ingredient's score is higher if used in product forms that are inhalable (e.g., sprays, powders) because of respiratory concerns. The score is lower if used in product forms that have lower risk of inhalation (e.g., solids, liquids)
  • This ingredient's score is higher if used in products that may not meet industry safety guidelines or U.S. and international government requirements and may have contamination concerns from toxic impurities. The score will be lower if used in products that do meet these safety guidelines and requirements and EWG’s contamination restrictions.

IMAGE SOURCE: PubChem

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Other Concerns

Use restrictions (moderate), Persistence and bioaccumulation (high), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low_moderate), Ecotoxicology (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low), and Contamination concerns (high)

SYNONYMS

● ANW-15818
● CO9816
● MFCD00132673
● INTERMEDIATE VISCOSITY POLYDIMETHYLSILOXANE ANTIFOAM EMULSION, 10% ACTIVE, VISCOSITY 1000-2000CST
● INTERMEDIATE VISCOSITY POLYDIMETHYLSILOXANE ANTIFOAM EMULSION, 30% ACTIVE, VISCOSITY 1500CST
● POLYDIMETHYLSILOXANE, TRIMETHYLSILOXY TERMINATED, REDUCED VOLATILITY, VISCOSITY 20 CST.
● INTERMEDIATE VISCOSITY POLYDIMETHYLSILOXANE ANTIFOAM EMULSION, 30% ACTIVE, VISCOSITY 1000-2000CST
● INTERMEDIATE VISCOSITY POLYDIMETHYLSILOXANE ANTIFOAM EMULSION, 10% ACTIVE, VISCOSITY 800-2000CST
● POLYDIMETHYLSILOXANE, TRIMETHYLSILOXY TERMINATED, EXTREME LOW VOLATILITY, VISCOSITY 12.500 CST.
● INTERMEDIATE VISCOSITY POLYDIMETHYLSILOXANE ANTIFOAM EMULSION, 20% ACTIVE, VISCOSITY 1000-2000CST

Restricted

Restricted: EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient without adequate substantiation

Dimethicone (also called polymethylsiloxane) is a silicon-based polymer used as a lubricant and conditioning agent.

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • LOW
    Cancer
  • LOW
    Allergies & Immunotoxicity
  • LOW
    Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
  • MODERATE
    Use Restrictions

Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
  • DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

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after shave47 products
after sun product23 products
anti-aging175 products
antiperspirant/deodorant383 products
antiperspirant/deodorant (men's)146 products
around-eye cream307 products
baby bubble bath1 products
baby lotion126 products
baby oil14 products
baby shampoo1 products
baby sunscreen33 products
baby wipes7 products
bar soap9 products
Basecoats and Undercoats1 products
bath oil/salts/soak9 products
BB cream221 products
recreational sunscreen286 products
beard care16 products
beard cleanser5 products
Beard Conditioners1 products
beard oil8 products
Blotting Paper1 products
blush1055 products
body art1 products
body firming lotion459 products
body oil19 products
body powder3 products
body spray5 products
body wash/cleanser52 products
bronzer/highlighter1248 products
brow liner405 products
bubble bath1 products
CC cream240 products
concealer2033 products
conditioner1203 products
cuticle treatment10 products
damaged skin treatment18 products
depilatory3 products
detangler49 products
diaper cream24 products
Dry Shampoo and Hair Powders2 products
exfoliant/scrub59 products
Exfoliants3 products
eye liner582 products
eye makeup remover5 products
eye shadow2545 products
Eye Shadow Primers5 products
eyelash glue2 products
Face Wipes3 products
facial cleanser63 products
facial moisturizer/treatment1291 products
facial powder542 products
Facial Sun Care23 products
foot cleansing6 products
foot moisturizer72 products
foot odor control12 products
foundation5029 products
fragrance for men2 products
fragrance for women3 products
Fragrance Lotion or Cream1 products
glitter63 products
hair color and bleaching151 products
hair relaxer8 products
hair spray64 products
hair styling aid334 products
Hair Styling Gel3 products
hair treatment/serum540 products
hair-loss treatment7 products
hand cream444 products
hand sanitizer24 products
lip balm187 products
lip balm with SPF16 products
lip gloss174 products
lip liner235 products
lip plumper11 products
Lip Stain6 products
lipstick2524 products
liquid hand soap3 products
makeup primer346 products
makeup remover64 products
mascara157 products
mask400 products
moisturizer1946 products
daily use with SPF636 products
Moisturizing Socks4 products
mouthwash1 products
muscle/joint soreness10 products
Nail Art and Jewelry2 products
nail glue3 products
nail polish749 products
nail treatment53 products
Novelty Makeup1 products
oil controller12 products
Oils & Serums17 products
other eye makeup20 products
Other Hair Care Preparations5 products
polish remover1 products
pore strips9 products
Preshave Preparations2 products
Putties, Puddings & Clays1 products
serums & essences412 products
setting powder/spray194 products
shampoo588 products
shaving cream43 products
shaving cream (men's)16 products
skin fading/lightener18 products
styling gel/lotion141 products
styling mousse/foam16 products
sunless tanning106 products
Tanning Sprays1 products
toners/astringents11 products
tooth whitening3 products
toothpaste3 products
Top Coats and Sealers3 products
Under Eye Concealers11 products
Wipes3 products

Contamination concerns

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Chemical
CYCLOPENTASILOXANE
CYCLOTETRASILOXANE

Data gaps

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported 'as used' concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in productCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Informational

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - anyCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Use restrictions

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Recommended restricted in cosmetics - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Product type restrictions or differences noted in safety assessment by industry panelCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Ecotoxicology

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada
Suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Classified as expected to be toxic or harmfulEnvironment Canada

Persistence and bioaccumulation

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be bioaccumulativeEnvironment Canada
Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife and humansSUBSTANCE EVALUATION CONCLUSION as required by REACH Article 48 and EVALUATION REPORT for Decamethyltetrasiloxane (L4) EC No 205-491-7 CAS RN 141-62-8(2021-12-01)
Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlifeEnvironment Canada

Multiple, additive exposure sources

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in foodUS. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Limited evidence of occular irritationEuropean Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
  • Environment Canada
  • SUBSTANCE EVALUATION CONCLUSION as required by REACH Article 48 and EVALUATION REPORT for Decamethyltetrasiloxane (L4) EC No 205-491-7 CAS RN 141-62-8(2021-12-01)
  • US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)

Understanding scores

Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.


HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG Verified® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Score legend
WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE APPROACH

A product’s hazard score is not an average of the ingredients’ hazard scores. It is calculated using a weight-of-evidence approach that factors in all of the hazards or health impacts associated with the ingredients.

Data availability

The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.

NONE LIMITED FAIR GOOD ROBUST
Low Availability
Moderate Availability
High Availability
NONE

Ingredients have not been assessed.

LIMITED-FAIR

There is only a modest volume of research.

GOOD-ROBUST

Ingredients have been studied extensively.

Can’t find your product?

Enter the ingredients in EWG’s Build Your Own Report tool to get an approximate score for that product.

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