There are a lot of skincare ingredients that have been put under the spotlight in recent years. As companies move more to skincare made by doctors, you are seeing more natural ingredients with long-term benefits rather than superficial ingredients that are only a temporary fix. Silicone falls into that category.
What Are Silicones?
They are derived from silica, which is the main component of sand. However, silica must go through considerable chemical changes to become silicone, so it does not fall under the “natural skincare ingredient” umbrella.
We often talk about using skincare products that create barrier to hold moisture in your skin, and silicones do provide that kind of protection, so one would think they would be a preferred ingredient for skincare products.
They are also often used in burn units because they promote the healing of wounds and block the wound from interacting with the outside elements, so the wound can stay clean and work on healing itself.
They Sound Great, But…
I guess the first question that I should be asking you is if you have a laceration or burn on your face that needs to heal? If that is not the case, you just lost one of the major benefits of using silicones. There are plenty of other reasons why you should also look for alternatives to silicones.
The Negatives of Silicones
Silicones are thick, so they stick to the skin and they repel water. Point being, they are quite difficult to wash off. That being the case, they can also clog pores. If your pores are clogged, you will start to develop breakouts. For those that are prone to acne, this could be a big problem.
If you typically use skincare bundles, silicones are should be a red flag. When you are using layering products, silicones are not very conducive once they hit the skin. As we noted above, they create a barrier, so once they are on, it will be tough for any other product to penetrate that layer.
From a “green” perspective, they are not very good either. They are considered bio-accumulative, which means when they go down the drain, they contribute to the pollution in our waterways.
They Are Fluff
And by fluff, we mean they don’t offer any real long-term benefits in terms of your overall skincare health. With the products that are available today, why would you pay so much money for something that goes away the minute the soap hits your skin. There are far better products that you can that will make you look great today and in the future.
And what do you know, we sell some of them right here!
