C24-28 ALKYL METHICONE ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is used as a waxy emollient, texture modifier, and film-forming conditioning agent. It adds slip, water resistance, cushion, and a soft-focus feel in skin care, makeup, hair care, and sunscreen formulas.
What does C24-28 ALKYL METHICONE do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is used as a waxy emollient, texture modifier, and film-forming conditioning agent. It adds slip, water resistance, cushion, and a soft-focus feel in skin care, makeup, hair care, and sunscreen formulas.
Is C24-28 ALKYL METHICONE clean?
It is typically well tolerated on skin, with low direct irritation potential. Clean-beauty frameworks often flag it because it is a synthetic organosilicon polymer with persistence concerns and limited alignment with natural-origin standards.
Is C24-28 ALKYL METHICONE sustainable?
This material is synthetic and generally relies on mineral and petrochemical-derived inputs rather than renewable feedstocks. It is not considered readily biodegradable, so its environmental profile is weaker than that of many plant-derived waxes, esters, and fatty alcohols.
Is C24-28 ALKYL METHICONE COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic standards as a cosmetic ingredient. From a Green Chemistry view, the main drawbacks are non-renewable sourcing, limited biodegradability, and environmental persistence.
How does C24-28 ALKYL METHICONE work chemically?
The molecule is a hydrophobic organosilicon polymer modified with long C24-C28 it chains, which gives it a wax-like melting profile and strong affinity for oils and pigment surfaces. It is usually used at low single-digit percentages, is stable across normal cosmetic pH ranges, and is commonly paired with oils, waxes, pigments, and other film formers to adjust payoff, drag, and water resistance.
Last updated 2026-05-13