Silicones on an ingredient list
Silicones are polymers built from repeating siloxane units. On a label they often end in -cone, -siloxane or -conol, for example DIMETHICONE or CYCLOPENTASILOXANE. A review says they form a thin film on hair, and dermatology sources list dimethicone as an occlusive. Poliage flags them by name when they are listed.
Silicone is a family of ingredients, not one. This guide explains how to spot the names, what sources say they do, and what the Poliage flag means.
What a silicone is
A 2025 review in Skin Appendage Disorders describes silicones as polymers characterized by repeating siloxane bonds. A polymer is a long molecule made of repeating units.
On a label the names often end in a recognizable way:
- -cone, as in DIMETHICONE and AMODIMETHICONE
- -siloxane, as in CYCLOPENTASILOXANE
- -conol, as in DIMETHICONOL
- names that include DIMETHICONE inside a longer name, such as PEG-12 DIMETHICONE
How Poliage groups them
Poliage’s Silicones flag matches about 700 CosIng names. It covers the dimethicone, methicone, siloxane, silsesquioxane, dimethiconol and polysilicone families, including PEG and crosspolymer versions. Silanes and mineral silicates are not in the group.
A flag states that an ingredient is listed. It is not a judgment. The product page says “Contains” followed by the ingredient and its function.
What the sources say they do
On hair, the review says silicones create a thin film over the hair shaft. It says the film reduces friction during combing, limits moisture loss and adds shine.
On skin, DermNet NZ lists dimethicone among occlusive ingredients, next to petroleum jelly, paraffin and mineral oil. DermNet NZ says occlusives provide a hydrophobic layer of oil on the skin’s surface. It also names dimethicone as a component of many barrier creams used to manage hand dermatitis.
A review of moisturizers in Clinical Medicine and Research states that lanolin, mineral oil and silicones such as dimethicone can reduce water loss through the skin by 20% to 30%.
Types that behave differently
The hair review separates two kinds.
- Water-insoluble silicones, such as dimethicone, amodimethicone and cyclomethicone, give strong film-forming and conditioning effects. The review says they can accumulate on hair, and that removing them may need stronger surfactants, which can cause dryness.
- Water-soluble silicones, such as dimethicone copolyol, rinse away more easily. The review says this lowers residue concerns.
The same review notes that cyclic silicones raise environmental concerns because of their low biodegradability. It adds that regulatory bodies have placed restrictions on their use in cosmetics. It does not name a rule, so this guide does not either.
Using the flag
If you avoid silicones for any reason, add the ingredient or the whole group to your avoid list. Poliage will then mark the match on each product page, including names you might not recognize as silicones.
Check the pack too. Labels can be misread, and a maker can change a formula without changing the barcode.
What this guide does not do
It does not say silicones are good or bad for any skin or hair type. It does not say a silicone will or will not suit you. If a product irritates your skin, talk to a doctor or pharmacist. DermNet NZ advises seeing a dermatologist for any concern about your skin.
Where this comes from
The grouping comes from Poliage’s own flag rules, which match CosIng names. The statements about hair come from a 2025 review in Skin Appendage Disorders. The 20% to 30% water loss figure comes from a 2017 review of moisturizers in Clinical Medicine and Research. The statements about occlusives and barrier creams come from DermNet NZ.