The Ugly Truth About Silicones in Skincare

Dermatologist Debriefs

Are your skincare products secretly suffocating your skin? In this eye-opening debrief, dermatologist Dr Stefanie pulls back the curtain on one of skincare's most ubiquitous yet problematic ingredients: silicones.
You might not realise it, but silicone derivatives lurk in nearly every bottle and jar on your bathroom shelf. These synthetic ingredients—recognisable by suffixes like "-cone," "-methicone," or "-siloxane"—create that silky-smooth texture we've come to associate with luxury skincare. But what if that velvety feeling comes at a serious cost to your skin health?
Dr Stefanie reveals how silicones form an occlusive film that acts like cling film on your skin, trapping oil, bacteria, and dead cells beneath while preventing beneficial ingredients from penetrating. This leads to congested pores, breakouts, and a compromised skin barrier. Even more concerning, silicones slow down natural cell turnover, contributing to dullness and persistent pigmentation issues. And the problems don't stop at your skin—these non-biodegradable compounds persist in waterways for decades, silently damaging ecosystems much like microplastics.
What's particularly frustrating is that silicones offer no actual skincare benefits beyond improving product texture and application. They're essentially cosmetic fillers that create immediate tactile gratification at the expense of long-term skin health. Next time you're shopping for skincare, check those ingredient lists for terms like dimethicone or cyclomethicone. Your skin deserves better than to be wrapped in synthetic polymers.

Chapters

1. Introduction to Silicones in Skincare (00:00:00)

2. How Silicones Create Surface Films (00:01:10)

3. Environmental Impact of Silicones (00:03:49)

4. Why Products Contain Silicones (00:06:24)

5. Recommendations and Conclusion (00:08:38)