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Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone

What Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone is & what it does

A silicone emulsifier that holds water-in-oil emulsions together for stable, water-resistant sunscreens. It contributes a smooth, light skin feel.

What is Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone and what does it do in sunscreen?

It is a silicone-based emulsifier. Its job is to hold water-in-oil emulsions together, which is the structure behind many stable, water-resistant sunscreens, especially mineral ones. As a bonus it contributes a smooth, light, silky skin feel, so it doubles as an emollient.

Is Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone safe?

Yes. Silicone emulsifiers like this are widely used and well tolerated, working on the surface of the skin rather than being absorbed. At the levels used to stabilize a sunscreen it is non-irritating for most people. It is a formulation helper, not an active ingredient.

Does Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone clog pores?

Generally no. It is a silicone-derived emulsifier used in small amounts, not a heavy plant oil or wax, and silicones are not typically pore-clogging. It is not one of the usual comedogenic flags. As with any emulsifier, very acne-prone skin can occasionally react, but it is rarely the culprit.

Is Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone a silicone?

Yes, it is a modified silicone. The dimethicone part is the silicone backbone, and the PEG and PPG groups are what make it able to bind water and oil together as an emulsifier. So it behaves more like an emulsifier than like a plain silicone you would see used for slip alone.

Why is Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone used in water-resistant sunscreens?

Because it builds water-in-oil emulsions, where water droplets are wrapped inside an oil phase. That oil-outside structure resists rinsing and sweat better than the reverse, which is exactly what you want from a water-resistant sunscreen. It keeps the formula stable so the protective film stays intact on skin.

Sunscreens with Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone

We rate 514 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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