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Polysilicone-11

What Polysilicone-11 is & what it does

A silicone elastomer that forms a flexible film, smoothing texture and giving a soft-focus, long-wearing finish. It also helps lock in other ingredients.

What is Polysilicone-11 and what does it do in sunscreen?

Polysilicone-11 is a silicone elastomer, a flexible silicone gel that forms a soft, cushiony film on skin. In a sunscreen it smooths texture, blurs the look of pores and fine lines, and gives a long-wearing, soft-focus finish. It can also help hold other ingredients in place on the skin.

Is Polysilicone-11 safe?

Yes. Silicone elastomers like Polysilicone-11 are inert, sit on the surface of skin, and are not absorbed, so they are considered very low-risk in cosmetics. They are non-irritating and well tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive skin. It is a routine ingredient in primers, foundations, and sunscreens.

Does Polysilicone-11 clog pores?

Generally no. Polysilicone-11 is a large, inert silicone that does not penetrate skin, and it is not flagged as comedogenic in our data. Silicones can feel occlusive, but they form a breathable mesh rather than a sealing layer. If you break out, the oils and waxes elsewhere in a formula are more likely the cause.

Is Polysilicone-11 vegan?

Yes. Polysilicone-11 is a fully synthetic silicone made from silicon and oxygen, with no animal-derived inputs, so it fits vegan and cruelty-conscious formulas. Whether a finished sunscreen is certified vegan still depends on the rest of its ingredients.

What is Polysilicone-11 on an ingredient list (INCI)?

"Polysilicone-11" is the INCI name on the label. It is a crosslinked silicone elastomer, so on the ingredient list it often appears suspended in a carrier such as cyclopentasiloxane or another silicone fluid. You will usually find it among the texture and finish ingredients rather than the actives.

Sunscreens with Polysilicone-11

We rate 190 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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