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Dimethicone Crosspolymer

What Dimethicone Crosspolymer is & what it does

A silicone gel powder that absorbs oil and fills fine lines for a soft-focus, blurring effect and a velvety, mattified feel. It improves texture and reduces shine.

What is Dimethicone Crosspolymer and what does it do in sunscreen?

Dimethicone Crosspolymer is a cross-linked silicone, usually supplied as a soft gel or powder, used to improve a product's feel and finish. It absorbs some oil and fills in the look of fine lines and pores, giving a soft-focus, blurring effect and a velvety, smoother surface. In a sunscreen it reduces shine and helps the product spread evenly and feel light rather than greasy.

Is Dimethicone Crosspolymer safe?

Yes. Silicones like Dimethicone Crosspolymer are among the more thoroughly evaluated cosmetic ingredients and are considered safe as used. The cross-linked form is large and inert, sitting on the surface of the skin rather than absorbing. It is not a known irritant or sensitizer for most people.

Does Dimethicone Crosspolymer clog pores?

Generally no. Despite the common myth about silicones, Dimethicone Crosspolymer is not flagged as comedogenic and is widely used in products meant for oily and breakout-prone skin. It forms a breathable, non-occlusive layer and even helps absorb oil. If you are breaking out, the heavier oils and waxes in a formula are more likely the cause.

What is Dimethicone Crosspolymer on an ingredient list (INCI)?

"Dimethicone Crosspolymer" is the INCI name on the label. It is a cross-linked version of dimethicone, the common skin-care silicone, made into a gel or powder for a soft, blurring feel. It is often delivered pre-mixed in a liquid silicone, so you may also see plain dimethicone listed nearby.

Is Dimethicone Crosspolymer natural or synthetic?

It is synthetic. It is built in a lab from silicone (dimethicone) chains that are cross-linked into a stable, sponge-like network. That engineered structure is what lets it soak up oil and give the smooth, mattifying, soft-focus finish that the basic liquid silicone cannot.

Sunscreens with Dimethicone Crosspolymer

We rate 463 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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