Common Name(s): Polysilicone-25,specialty silicone,conditioning performance polymer

CAS Number: N/a

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides silicone conditioning — smooth skin feel, water repellency, heat protection, or emulsification — from the specific silicone architecture.

Why It's Used: Silicone derivatives provide performance profiles unavailable from organic emollients: the si-o backbone's flexibility, low surface energy (~20 mn/m), and thermal stability are unique physicochemical properties.

How It Works: Si-o bond flexibility (low rotational barrier ~0.6 kcal/mol) allows silicone chains to adopt conformations maximising surface contact. methyl groups on silicon provide hydrophobic, low-energy surface. functional modifications (peg, phenyl, amine, acrylate) extend performance.

Typically Found In: Skin care,hair care,colour cosmetics

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Functional ingredient – emollient

Secondary Functions: Barrier sealing,softening

Application Areas:

Typical Concentration Range: 0.5%–25%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Plant-derived, synthetic or animal-derived. verify source.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 1/5 – low; formulation-dependent

Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.

Works Well With: Humectants,ceramides,actives as carrier

Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Silicone selection is application-specific: fluid silicones (low mw) for spreading; elastomers (crosslinked) for velvet skin feel; volatile cyclics for dry-touch carrier; amino-functional (amodimethicone) for hair substantivity.

Last Verified: Cosing database,polysilicone-25 silicone review

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12