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Are Silicones In Beauty Products Good Or Bad? We're Spilling The Tea

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With the concept of 'clean beauty' on the rise, there are a lot of questionable ingredients coming to light. Take parabens, for eg, most of us choose to use 'paraben-free' skin and hair care products as we now know that they aren't safe to use. Add formaldehyde, sulfates (not to be confused with sulphur) and phthalates to that list.

Another such ingredient that is still up for debate is silicone. Yes, the popular ingredient that blurs out the pores and makes your skin look excellent. So, what's the verdict? Let's find out!

What Is Silicone?

Silicones are a group of semi-liquid, almost plastic-like substances that are derived from silica. It has to go through a ton of chemical processes to become what we call silicone.

It is commonly used in lubricants, implants, sex toys, to make faux body parts in movies and of course, in makeup. In fact, it is quite popular in the world of beauty. When applied on the skin, it feels like 'wet' plastic and provides a tacky barrier resistant to water and air. That's not all, there are allegedly many benefits of silicone in makeup. Let's know about them, shall we?

Benefits Of Silicone

Credits: Pexels.com

- Silicones are used in multiple beauty products as they have healing properties. Despite sounding heavy, it allows the skin to breathe.

- When you apply a primer on your hands and if it feels plastic-y, then it means that it has silicone in it. Its unique texture and ability to blur out pores make it a popular ingredient in many beauty products.

- Mostly, silicones can be found in serums and moisturisers as they lend a velvety texture when applied to the skin and also makes the skin look so good, thanks to the film coating.

So far, so good. So, why are scientists against the idea of using silicone in beauty?

The Not So Good Side Of Silicone

Yes, these slippery ingredients do make our skin look good but there are a lot of reasons you should avoid them:

- Silicones form a barrier on top of the skin, exactly like a plastic film. Yes, it can lock in the moisture but it can also trap the nasties such as dirt, sebum, dead skin cells and whatnot.

- It takes a while to wash it off from your skin properly and can cause acne and congestion. If you have suddenly seen a rise in pimples on your skin after using a new product, then immediately check out the ingredient list.

- Apart from clogging pores, silicone present in your makeup can make your skin dull. The barrier doesn't allow anything to come through, making your skin dehydrated.

- If you apply a silicone-based skincare product, no matter how many products you use after that, they're just a waste. Not a single one of them would be able to penetrate into your skin at all, thus preventing them to do their required jobs. 

- Honestly, silicones do not benefit the skin in any form of the way apart from making it look hella fine, that too for a short amount of time. It doesn't help with any sort of skin woes or prevents ageing. So, just avoid it.

How To Spot Silicone In Skincare

Credits: Pexels.com

We know what you're thinking--"By reading the ingredient list"! But things are never that simple, right?

Take any of your beauty products and look for the ingredients that end with these words;

- Conols: Dimethiconol.

- Cones: Dimethicone (the most common one), amodimethicone, trimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, trimethicone and methicone.

-Silanes: Dimethyl silane, triethoxycaprylylsilane and crosspolymer.

-Siloxanes: Cyclopentasiloxane, siloxane and polydimethylsiloxane.

Calling All DIY Skincare Junkies: This Machine Lets You Make Your Own Face Masks At Home!

So we all are promising to avoid this silly ingredient from now on, right?

Featured Image: Pexels.com

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