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Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer

What Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer is & what it does

A silicone elastomer that gives a silky, cushiony slip and a blurring, pore-soft finish. It absorbs excess oil and refines the look of the skin surface.

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

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer is a silicone elastomer, a softly springy form of silicone. It gives a sunscreen a silky, cushiony slip and a smooth, blurring finish that softens the look of pores. It can also soak up some excess oil, which helps a formula feel less greasy and look more refined on the skin.

Is Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer safe?

Yes. Silicone elastomers like this one are widely used and well tolerated, sitting on the surface of the skin to improve feel and finish. They are inert and do not penetrate or react with the skin in any meaningful way. For most people they are among the more comfortable, non-irritating texture ingredients.

Does Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer clog pores?

Generally no. This silicone elastomer is considered low on the comedogenicity scale and is often chosen for a soft-focus, pore-blurring finish rather than a heavy one. It sits on top of the skin and even helps absorb some excess oil, so it is an unlikely cause of breakouts for most people.

Is Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer natural or synthetic?

It is synthetic. Silicones are made in a lab from silicon, a component of sand, processed into the springy elastomer used here. Synthetic in this case simply means it is engineered for a specific silky, blurring finish, not that it is harsh.

Why does my sunscreen feel silky and blurring?

That smooth, cushiony slip often comes from a silicone elastomer like Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer. It glides over the skin, fills in fine texture for a soft-focus look, and mops up a little surface oil so the finish feels velvety rather than greasy. It is a cosmetic feel effect, working only on the surface.

Sunscreens with Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer

We rate 712 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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