DID YOU KNOW? Silicones are the ideal ingredients for Clean Beauty

What is Clean Beauty?

Clean Beauty is all about ingredient safety over source incorporating both synthetic and natural materials. While maybe a surprise to many not all natural ingredients are safe and not all synthetic ingredients are unsafe. With Clean Beauty, brands are focused on not using materials that are known to be harmful or irritating but instead ones that are safe and efficacious.

Why do silicones fit into Clean Beauty?

Along with their safety, enhanced performance of active ingredients, compatibility with other materials including naturals, and the unmatched sensory acceptance, silicones are extremely valuable and desired for cosmetic formulations. Besides the basic cosmetic products, silicones are used extensively in OTC, baby care, medical applications, and sensitive skin products due to their non-irritating characteristics. Silicones are also not animal derived and therefore approved by Vegans as cruelty free materials. They are not related to palm and RSPO issues and are certified as GMO free. The types of silicones used in cosmetic products are supported by scientific research and are considered extremely safe for consumer use. Silicones are effective, inert, and versatile ingredients that benefit skin and hair in numerous ways.

  • Silicones: Rethinking Clean and Safe Beauty article
  • Silicones: Rethinking Clean and Safe Beauty Presentation – view PDF
  • Blogger Collaboration: The Silicone Debate – view PDF
  • The Truth about Silicones in Cosmetics – view video
  • Busting Silicone Myths – view video
  • Clean Beauty E-Book by C&T – view PDF
  • Educating Consumers on Silicones – view PDF
  • Clean Cosmetics: Harvard Health article – view PDF

Silicone facts and education:

  • Derived from sand, silicones have been used in the personal care industry since the 1970’s
  • Concluded by major health agency’s that cyclomethicones (type of silicones) are extremely safe for topical human use
    • European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
    • UK Environment Agency
    • Health Canada
    • Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel (CIR)
    • Australian Inventory Multi-tiered Assessment and Prioritization
  • Health Canada concluded that cyclomethicones (type of silicones) have low to no risk for environmental concern and that no restrictions are necessary
  • Contrary to what the popular press may communicate, silicones are not occlusive and protect epidermis with a breathable silky barrier
  • The assumption that silicones are not degradable is largely based on misconception. Silicones are removed by mechanisms such as partitioning to air followed by atmospheric degradation.
  • What happens in the environment? Highly volatile, D5 (type of silicone) evaporates rapidly and degrades in air under the influence of sunlight. The small amounts that may remain in soil degrade, and in water they hydrolyze.  Silicones are degradable and sustainable presentation
  • Are silicones sustainable? Absolutely. Silicones are derived from quartz (sand), the second most abundant mineral on earth.
  • Natural is implicitly equated with “safety”, and yet ironically essential oils are a quintessential example of natural ingredients laden with allergens. Even jojoba oil, ubiquitous in “sensitive” products, is a proven source of contact dermatitis and sensitization.
  • Claims that silicones in any form cause or worsen skin concerns have not been substantiated in any published research, nor have reports that silicones are sensitizing to or somehow “suffocate” skin. In fact, just the opposite is true which makes the misinformation difficult to understand. Almost all of the claims about silicones being problematic for skin are apparently myths or based on anecdotal evidence.
  • There are many types of silicone-based ingredients and not all should be classified the same way. Silicone reactive intermediates are very different from silicone elastomer polymers and silicone cyclic and linear fluids.

SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS:

SUSTAINABILITY OF SILICONES:

The POLYSILICONE-11® Advantage:

  • Unparalleled skin safety (non-irritating, non-comedogenic, OTC and medical applications)
  • Reliability and reproducibility (odorless, colorless, consistent quality, chemically stable)
  • Exceptional sensory performance (proven consumer soft touch experience and acceptance)
  • Enhanced delivery of actives (stabilizing matrix improves efficacy)
  • Multifunctional value-added benefits (a sensorial modifier with optical light diffusing properties)
  • Versatile delivery substrate options to meet various formulation requirements

About POLYSILICONE-11® Chemistry:

  • Polysilicone-11® is a large molecular weight inert crosslinking polymer prepared from silicone intermediates.
  • Polysilicone-11® has no negative health or safety concerns. This elastomer offers maximum safety by remain­ing on the skins’ surface as a sensorial and visual modifier delivery substrate to enhance the performance of cosmetic formulations.
  • Polysilicone-11® swells in the presents of volatile and non-volatile silicones, alkanes and other solvents to form a gelatinous suspension of of silky soft particles which are dispersible in creams, lotions, gels and makeup formulations.

Polysilicone-11® is a proprietary technology of GRANT INDUSTRIES, INC.

For marketing purposes Polysilicone-11® is protected under trademark law.