In the beauty industry, skincare ingredients have always been a primary point of interest. This intense scrutiny of what makes up a beauty product has resulted in widely-accepted conclusions on whether they are good or bad. A victim of this generalization is, without a doubt, silicone that carries the devil-tag in many circles.
What is silicone?
Silicone does not refer to a single ingredient but is a class of polymers. The fundamental elements in these polymers are silicon (a naturally occurring chemical element) and oxygen. These elements are mixable with other compounds creating a wide range of silicone products in the market today.
For the skincare industry, products containing silicone will have ingredients ending in -; siloxane and -; cone. The most popular types are; Cyclomethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Methicone, dimethicone, and polydimethylsiloxane. Why does silicone have such a bad reputation? The demand for a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes it skincare is the undoing of many people. We have different skin types, and for each category, special care is required. Unfortunately, customers often rush to pick a product that has worked for another individual. This is without consideration of their unique body’s state. Thus, silicone, with its many varieties in beauty products, is widely used on the wrong skin type. But, this can be reversed by knowing the silicone types that are beneficial for your skin. Still, there are lots of myths about silicone that must be put to rest. Four popular myths about silicone ingredients
· Silicone causes acne. If you have been wondering why you’re getting breakouts, then you need to shift focus from silicone as the primary cause. This is because comedogenicity tests (pore-clogging) have proven that silicone is non-comedogenic. Since it is a lightweight formula, it works great on oily skin types as it reduces the impacts of harsh acne products.
· Silicone blocks skin pores. The standard line used is that silicone blocks the ability of the skin to ‘breathe.’ This cannot be further from the truth as silicone does not enter our pore-lining, given its net-like structure. Its protective properties through the formation of occlusive films will also not impact the air exchange of skin tissues.
· Silicone causes skin irritation. The truth is silicone is hypoallergenic; as such, it does not irritate the skin in any way. In effect, silicone-based products are great for people with irritated skin as it protects them from environmental pollutants.
· Silicone is harmful to the hair. This is a myth based on an exaggeration of the accumulation effect of silicone. The accumulation effect happens as silicone attracts atmospheric substances. These substances then stick to the hair. Luckily, the solution to this is washing your hair after 10 to 14 days using deep cleaning shampoos and handmade soaps.
It is important to note that while there are many myths about silicone, not every product with this ingredient is suitable for you. This is because silicon-based products contain other ingredients that might not work for you. Instead of joining the bandwagon of silicon critics, your focus is to be on the specific formula of a beauty product.
Beauty care specialists advocate that before choosing a skincare formula, you must know your skin type. The same applies when evaluating beauty products containing silicone. This offers a stronger foundation for making your decision than being swayed by popular myths.
