Bis-stearyl Dimethicone ●
TL;DR. This ingredient functions as an emollient, conditioning agent, film-former, and texture modifier. It adds slip, gloss, water resistance, and a waxy cushion in skin, hair, and color cosmetics.
What does Bis-stearyl Dimethicone do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient functions as an emollient, conditioning agent, film-former, and texture modifier. It adds slip, gloss, water resistance, and a waxy cushion in skin, hair, and color cosmetics.
Is Bis-stearyl Dimethicone clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it is usually flagged because it is a persistent synthetic organosilicon polymer rather than because of high irritation potential. It is generally well tolerated on skin, but its category has clean-standard friction due to biodegradability and restricted-list concerns.
Is Bis-stearyl Dimethicone sustainable?
This material is synthetic and typically petrochemical or mineral-derived rather than renewable. It is not readily biodegradable and can persist in the environment, which weakens its sustainability profile.
Is Bis-stearyl Dimethicone COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted under COSMOS-organic or COSMOS-natural standards. Its fit with Green Chemistry is weak because it relies on synthetic organosilicon chemistry, is not readily biodegradable, and does not align well with renewable feedstock principles.
How does Bis-stearyl Dimethicone work chemically?
The molecule is a high-molecular-weight organosilicon polymer modified with long C18 alkyl chains, which gives it a hydrophobic, waxy character and strong affinity for oil phases. It is typically used at low single-digit percentages, is broadly pH-stable, and is usually incorporated with heating or good dispersion into an oil phase.
Last updated 2026-05-13