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PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone

What PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone is & what it does

A silicone emulsifier used to build stable water-in-silicone sunscreens with a light, smooth feel. It helps the formula spread evenly and resist water.

What is PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone and what does it do in sunscreen?

PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone is a silicone-based emulsifier, used to build stable water-in-silicone sunscreens. It lets oil and water blend into one smooth, even mixture and helps the product spread lightly and resist water. The result is a formula with a silky, non-greasy feel.

Is PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone safe?

Yes. It is a widely used silicone emulsifier that is well tolerated and works on the surface to hold the formula together. Like other PEG-type ingredients it can carry trace manufacturing by-products, which reputable makers purify out; that is a contaminant concern, not the ingredient itself.

Does PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone clog pores?

Generally no. Silicone emulsifiers like this are used in small amounts and are not classic pore-clogging ingredients. Very acne-prone skin can occasionally react to any emulsifier, but in a well-formulated sunscreen it is not a notable comedogenic flag.

Is PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone an emulsifier or a silicone?

It is both: it is a silicone (a dimethicone) that has been modified with PEG and PPG groups so it can also act as an emulsifier. That dual nature is what lets it blend water into a silicone base and give the smooth, water-in-silicone texture common in long-wearing sunscreens.

Is PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone natural or synthetic?

It is synthetic. It is a lab-made silicone that has been modified with polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol units to make it emulsify. It does not occur in nature, which is normal for this type of texture and emulsifying ingredient.

Sunscreens with PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone

We rate 112 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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