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Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone

What Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone is & what it does

Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone is a silicone modified with two long-chain stearyl groups, combining the smooth slip of a dimethicone with the waxy, conditioning feel of a fatty alcohol derivative. In creams and sunscreens it acts as an emollient and texture enhancer, giving products a silky glide and helping form a soft, water- resistant film on the skin surface. It is a wax-like solid at room temperature, so it can also help thicken and stabilize anhydrous or oil-rich formulas.

What does Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone do in skincare?

Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone is a silicone modified with fatty stearyl groups that acts as an emollient and texture enhancer. In creams and sunscreens it adds a silky glide and helps form a soft, water-resistant film on the skin. It can also help thicken and stabilize oil-rich or anhydrous formulas.

Is Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone comedogenic?

Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone is a silicone-based ingredient, and silicones are generally considered low on the comedogenic scale and non-occlusive in the pore-clogging sense. Individual reactions vary, so anyone prone to breakouts may still want to patch test. Overall it is widely used in facial products including those labeled non-comedogenic.

Is Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone natural or synthetic?

Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone is a synthetic ingredient, built on a silicone (dimethicone) backbone that is modified with stearyl chains. The stearyl portion is fatty-alcohol derived and can come from plant or petrochemical sources, but the overall molecule is lab-made. It is not considered a naturally occurring substance.

Sunscreens with Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone

We rate 6 sunscreens that contain it:

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