C20-24 Alkyl Dimethicone ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a waxy emollient and conditioning film-former that adds slip, water resistance, and a smooth, cushioned feel. It can also help structure sticks, balms, and anhydrous formulas.
What does C20-24 Alkyl Dimethicone do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a waxy emollient and conditioning film-former that adds slip, water resistance, and a smooth, cushioned feel. It can also help structure sticks, balms, and anhydrous formulas.
Is C20-24 Alkyl Dimethicone clean?
It is generally low-irritation and not a common sensitizer, but many clean-beauty frameworks limit or exclude it because it is a synthetic, persistent polymer. The main concern is standards alignment, not routine skin tolerance.
Is C20-24 Alkyl Dimethicone sustainable?
This material is synthetically made from mineral-derived and petrochemical inputs. It is not readily biodegradable, and its environmental profile is weaker than plant-derived, readily degradable emollients.
Is C20-24 Alkyl Dimethicone COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic standards. From a Green Chemistry lens, it has poor alignment because it relies on nonrenewable inputs and has limited biodegradability, even though it is typically stable and used at low levels.
How does C20-24 Alkyl Dimethicone work chemically?
The molecule has a repeating silicon-oxygen backbone with methyl groups and long C20-C24 hydrocarbon side chains, which makes it hydrophobic, wax-like, and substantive on skin or hair. It is typically used at low single-digit percentages, is stable across normal cosmetic pH ranges, and needs oil-phase compatibility or heat during processing when used in solid or semi-solid systems.
Last updated 2026-05-13