Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Index: Good
Categories: Silicone, Texture Enhancer, Polymer

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer at a Glance

  • A type of silicone powder
  • Can be difficult to disperse in a formulation
  • Used to give products a unique, "powdery" silky feel
  • Has some oil absorption properties
  • Ruled safe as used in cosmetics and is unable to penetrate skin

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer Description

Dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer is a silicone powder that gives cosmetic products a silky feel and can mitigate the oily feel of formulations. It is often paired with pure dimethicone, a silicone that has documented protective and hydrating properties.

Dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer can also be used as a thickener for water-in-oil formulations. Because of the complex nature of this polymer, its properties can vary from one supplier to another.

The independent Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel found dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer is safe as used in skin care products. Its review determined that the size of this ingredient’s molecules is not able to penetrate skin. It was also not found to be irritating or sensitizing even in concentrations exceeding 45%.