Skin Care
Silicones, delivering the delights of a healthier and more youthful-looking skin
Silicones boost the perceivable benefits of skin care products
Are you looking to improve the performance of your skin care formulation?
Today’s consumers are increasingly focused on wellness, self-care and the sustainability of our planet. They want more plant-based choices. While natural skin care products are appealing, they often prove challenging in delivering the performance consumers desire. Silicones, proven performance enhancers in skin products, have been working in concert with natural ingredients to deliver the performance promise since the 1950s.
Breathable and non-comedogenic, silicones are versatile additives that have been delivering a myriad of benefits in skin care products for many years.
Silicones are multifunctional ingredients that:
- Facilitate the formulation process through enhanced spreading, uniform application, reduced tackiness of humectants and sunscreens, minimized greasiness of natural oils and fats
- Deliver significant and easily perceivable benefits to consumers: silkiness, smooth and moisturized feel, healthy glow, masking fine lines, boosting SPF in sunscreens, delivering skin care actives for long-term effects and many more benefits.
Our product offerings for skin care
A wide range of standard and high-performance silicone products are available under the Mirasil™ and PURESIL™ brands in the following categories:
- Dimethicone Fluids, with viscosity from 2cst to 500,000 cst, volatile to non-volatile
- Gum Blends with volatile or non-volatile silicone carriers
- Emulsions of amino silicones, dimethicones
- Phenyl modified silicones: phenyl trimethicone, diphenyl dimethicone, etc.
- Specialty silicones: amine modified silicones, alkyl functional silicones
- Silicone emulsifiers: water in silicone emulsifier, water in silicone and oil emulsifier, etc.
- Silicone elastomer gels in a range of carrier fluids, volatile to non-volatile, silicone to naturally derived organic carrier
- Silicone resin film formers in volatile and non-volatile carriers.
- Silicone resin microspheres
Why partner with Elkem Silicones in skin care?
In addition to our current offering, we continue to launch new products to support customers in innovation and improve on sustainability. Our knowledgeable staff and state-of-the-art application labs can assist you in creating your next innovative formulations
Check out our skin care selector guide and contact our experts and distribution partners in your area for more information.
Skin Care selector guide
Volatile Silicones
Product name MIRASIL™ |
INCI name | Typical physical properties | Key Features and Benefits | Typical Use Level | |||
Viscosity at 25ºC (mm2/s) |
Specific Gravity at 25ºC |
Refractive index at 25ºC |
Flash Point (ºC) | ||||
CM5 HP | Cyclopentasiloxane | 3.9 | 0.95 | 1,395 | 80 |
|
1 - 10% |
DM2 | Dimethicone | 2.0 | 0.87 | 1,391 | 85 |
|
0.5 - 10% |
Silicones Fluids
Product name Mirasil™ |
INCI name | Typical physical properties | Key Features and Benefits | Typical Use Level | |||
Viscosity at 25ºC (mPa.s) |
Specific Gravity at 25ºC |
Refractive index at 25ºC |
Flash Point (ºC) | ||||
DM 5 | Dimethicone | 5 | 0.92 | 1,396 | 130 |
|
0.5 - 10% |
DM 10 | 10 | 0.93 | 1,399 | > 180 | |||
DM 20 | 20 | 0.95 | 1,4 | 240 | |||
DM 50 | 50 | 0.96 | 1,401 | 300 | |||
DM 100 | 100 | 0.96 | 1,402 | 300 | |||
DM 350 | 350 | 0.97 | 1,403 | 300 | |||
DM 500 | 500 | 0.97 | 1,403 | 300 | |||
DM 1000 | 1000 | 0.97 | 1,403 | 300 | |||
DM 5000 | 5000 | 0.97 | 1,404 | 300 |
|
0.5 - 5% | |
DM 60 000 | 60 000 | 0.97 | 1,404 | 300 | |||
DM 300 000 | 300 000 | 0.97 | 1,404 | 300 | |||
DM 500 000 | 500 000 | 0.97 | 1,404 | 300 |
Silicone Gum Blends
Product name MIRASIL™ |
INCI name | Typical physical properties | Key Features and Benefits | Typical Use Level | ||
Active content (%) | Carrier | Viscosity | ||||
(mPa.s) | ||||||
Silicone Gum in Volatile Carrier | ||||||
C-DM | Cyclopentasiloxane (and) Dimethicone | 30 | Cyclopentasiloxane | 3500 | • Lasting silky, soft and lubricious skin feel • Durable on skin • Water repellency |
3 - 10% |
C-DMB | 15 | Cyclopentasiloxane | 6000 | |||
C-DM 2022* | 15 | Cyclopentasiloxane | 6000 | |||
C-DML | 15 | Cyclopentasiloxane | 6000 | |||
C-DML LV | 11 | Cyclopentasiloxane | 1750 | |||
C-DML MV | 12 | Cyclopentasiloxane | 2300 | |||
C-DML HV | 16 | Cyclopentasiloxane | 7000 | |||
C-DML 1022* | 15 | Cyclopentasiloxane | 6500 | |||
C-DML 1022 HV* | 18 | Cyclopentasiloxane | 9000 | |||
Silicone Gum in Non-volatile Carrier | ||||||
D-DMB | Dimethicone | 15 | Dimethicone | 3300 | • Moisturizing skin feel • Carrier for hydrosensitive actives • Long lasting silky, soft and lubricious skin feel • Water repellency • D5 alternative carrier |
3 - 10% |
D-DML | Dimethicone (and) Dimethiconol | 12 | Dimethicone | 4500 | ||
D-DML LV | 12 | Dimethicone | 1500 | |||
D-DML MV | 20 | Dimethicone | 10 500 | |||
D-DML HV | 16 | Dimethicone | 8500 | |||
D-DML 1032* | 16 | Dimethicone | 4800 |
Amino and Alkyl Functional Silicones
Product name Mirasil™ |
INCI name | Typical physical properties | Functions / Benefits | Use level | ||
Specific gravity at 25ºC |
Refractive Index at 25ºC |
Viscosity (mPa.s) |
||||
Silicone HALS (Hindered Amine Light Stabilizer) | ||||||
ADMH 395 | Propoxytetramethyl Piperidinyl Dimethicone | 0.975 | 1.407 | 10 000 | • Patented amino silicones technology • Antioxidant and radical scavenger capacity • Help dispersing physical UV filters • Soft and light skin feel • Non-yellowing |
0,5% to 3% |
ADMH 3900 | 0.975 | 1.407 | 90 000 | |||
ADMH 403 | 0.975 | 1.408 | 250 | |||
ADMH B 100 | C15-19 Alkane (and) Propoxytetramethyl Piperidinyl Dimethicone |
0.883 | 1.428 | 2 000 | ||
Alkyl Functional Silicones | ||||||
CAPRYLYL TSO | Caprylyl Methicone | 0.84 | 1.413 | 4 mm²/s | • Moderate volatility • High compatibility with a broad range of oils • Help dispersing physical UV filters • Improve spreading of vegetable oils • Light skin feel • Moderate slip |
5% to 20% |
CETYL DM | Cetyl Dimethicone | 0,902 | 1,434 | 230 | • Broad compatibility with cosmetic ingredients • Sustainability on skin • Impart smoothness, slipperiness and shine on skin •Skin moisturization |
1% to 5% |
STEARYL DM | Stearyl Dimethicone | 250 (40°C) | • Soft wax melts on skin contact • Broad compatibility with cosmetic ingredients • Sustainability on skin • Impart smoothness, slipperiness and shine on skin • Water repellency |
0,5% to 5% |
Phenyl Functional Silicones
Product name Mirasil™ |
INCI name | Typical physical properties | Key Features and Benefits | Use level | |||
Phenyl Si gum content (%) |
Carrier | Viscosity (mPa.s) |
Refractive Index at 25ºC |
||||
Phenyl Silicone Fluid | |||||||
PTM | Phenyl Trimethicone | 100 | None | 22 | 1.459 | • Broad compatibility with organic ingredients • High shine • Smooth, light and non-greasy feel • Reduce tackiness in sunscreens |
0,5% to 10% |
Phenyl Silicone Gum Blends | |||||||
P-DPDM | Phenyl Trimethicone (and) Diphenyl Dimethicone | 15 | Phenyl Trimethicone | 12 500 | 1.454 | • Long lasting shine • Excellent slip • Durable lubricious and soft sensory feel |
2% to 10% |
C-DPDM | Cyclopentasiloxane (and) Diphenyl Dimethicone | 15 | Cyclopentasiloxane | 2 000 | 1.404 | ||
BRIGHT | C15-19 Alkane (and) Diphenyl Dimethicone | 20 | C15-19 Alkane | 1 500 | 1.444 | • Durable dry silky and slipery feel • Long lasting shine |
0,5% to 5% |
SERUM | Cyclopentasiloxane (and) C15-19 Alkane (and) Dimethiconol (and) Diphenyl Dimethicone (and) Propoxytetramethyl Piperidinyl Dimethicone | 18 | Cyclopentasiloxane and C15-19 Alkane | 800 | 1.410 | • A unique serum optimized for multifuctional benefits and ease of formulation • Impart smooth, softness, lubricity and shine • Help dispersing physical sunscreen |
5% to 25% |
Silicone Elastomer Gel
Product name PURESIL™ |
INCI name | Typical physical properties | Functions / Benefits | Use level | ||
Carrier | Viscosity (Pa.s) |
Crosspolymer (%) |
||||
BSG 200 | Dimethicone (and) Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer |
Non-volatile Dimethicone | 100 000 - 400 000 | 20-30 |
|
5% to 40% |
BSG 200S | Non-volatile Dimethicone | 60 000 - 120 000 | 20-30 | |||
BSG 5041 | Non-volatile Dimethicone | 300 000 - 500 000 | 20-30 | |||
D 308 | High volatile Dimethicone | 50 000 - 100 000 | 5-10 |
|
||
BSG 650 DF | Dimethicone (and) Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer (and) Phenyl Trimethicone (and ) Stearyl Dimethicone |
Volatile Dimethicone and Phenyl Trimethicone and Stearyl Dimethicone | 10 000 - 60 000 | 5-10 |
|
|
BSG 250 | Cyclopentasiloxane (and) Dimethicone (and) Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer | Non volatile Dimethicone Volatile Cyclopentasiloxane |
100 000 - 400 000 | 20-30 |
|
|
BSG 350 | Cyclopentasiloxane (and) Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer |
Cyclopentasiloxane | 20 000 - 60 000 | 5-10 |
|
|
BSG 5040 | Cyclopentasiloxane | 350 000 - 550 000 | 10-20 |
|
||
CHM01 | Cyclohexasiloxane (and) Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer |
Cyclohexasiloxane | 120 000 - 300 000 | 20-30 |
|
|
ORG01 | C13-15 Alkane (and) Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer |
Naturally derived alkane | 120 000 - 300 000 | 10-20 |
|
|
Product name Mirasil™ |
INCI name | Typical physical properties | Functions / Benefits | Use level | ||
Carrier | Viscosity (mPa.s) |
Crosspolymer (%) |
||||
D-DMX 17 | Dimethicone (and) Dimethicone Crosspolymer | Non-volatile Dimethicone | 300 000 | 12 |
|
5% to 40% |
C-DMX 12 | Cyclopentasiloxane (and) Dimethicone Crosspolymer | Cyclopentasiloxane | 415 000 | 12 |
|
Emulsifiers
Product name Mirasil™ |
INCI name | Typical physical properties | Functions / Benefits | Use level | |||
Active (%) | HLB (calculated) | Viscosity (mPa.s) |
Refractive Index at 25ºC |
||||
Dimethicone Copolyols | |||||||
DMCO | PEG/PPG-22/24 Dimethicone | 100 | 13 | 1 800 | 1.446 |
|
0,5% to 3% |
PEG 12 DM | PEG-12 Dimethicone | 100 | 14 | 500 | 1.457 | ||
Emulsifiers | |||||||
C-DMP | Cyclopentasiloxane (and) PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone | 11 | 2 | < 100 | 1.397 |
|
6% to 24% |
BALANCE | Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone | 100 | 3 | 1 100 | 1.436 |
|
1% to 3% |
Silicone Resins
Product name | INCI name | Typical physical properties | Key Features and Benefits | Use level | ||
Carrier | Viscosity (mPa.s) |
Resin content (%) |
||||
PURESIL™ TMS DM 30 | Dimethicone (and) Trimethylsiloxysilicate | Non-volatile dimethicone | 400 - 1 000 | 33 |
|
1% to 15% |
PURESIL™ TMS IDD 50 | Trimethylsiloxysilicate (and) Isododecane | Isododecane | <50 | 50 |
|
|
MIRASIL TM MSR 88 | Trimethylsiloxysilicate | No | _ | 100 |
|
0.5-10% |
Silicone Powder
Product name MIRASIL™ |
INCI name | Typical physical properties | Functions / Benefits | Use level | ||
Physical form | Active (%) | Average Particle size | ||||
Micropearl 40 | Polymethylsilsesquioxane | White powder | 100 | 4 µm |
|
0,2% to 10% |