20% Inactive: C26-28 Alkyl Dimethicone ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a waxy hydrophobic film-former and conditioning agent that improves slip, water resistance, and long-wear feel in creams, sticks, and sunscreens.
What does 20% Inactive: C26-28 Alkyl Dimethicone do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a waxy hydrophobic film-former and conditioning agent that improves slip, water resistance, and long-wear feel in creams, sticks, and sunscreens.
Is 20% Inactive: C26-28 Alkyl Dimethicone clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it often raises flags because it is a synthetic silicone polymer with low skin-irritation potential but poor alignment with many no-silicone restricted lists. The main concern is environmental persistence rather than direct skin tolerance.
Is 20% Inactive: C26-28 Alkyl Dimethicone sustainable?
It is made from petrochemical and mineral-derived feedstocks, and it is not readily biodegradable. Its large, hydrophobic polymer structure can persist in wastewater sludge and sediments, which weakens its sustainability profile.
Is 20% Inactive: C26-28 Alkyl Dimethicone COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted in COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic formulas because synthetic silicone polymers sit outside the standard’s allowed chemistry. It has weak Green Chemistry alignment due to nonrenewable feedstocks and limited biodegradability.
How does 20% Inactive: C26-28 Alkyl Dimethicone work chemically?
This material is a high-molecular-weight organosilicon polymer modified with long C26 to C28 it side chains, giving it a waxy feel, strong water repellency, and compatibility with oils and other hydrophobic phases. It is typically used at low single-digit levels in anhydrous or emulsion systems, is broadly pH-stable, and is not prone to oxidation like unsaturated plant oils.
Last updated 2026-05-16