Polysilicone-2 ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is primarily a synthetic conditioning and film-forming polymer. It improves slip, softness, shine, and water-resistant feel in hair and skin formulas, with secondary use as a sensory modifier.
What does Polysilicone-2 do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is primarily a synthetic conditioning and film-forming polymer. It improves slip, softness, shine, and water-resistant feel in hair and skin formulas, with secondary use as a sensory modifier.
Is Polysilicone-2 clean?
From a clean-beauty standpoint, this ingredient has low direct irritation potential, but it often appears on no-silicone or restricted-synthetic-polymer lists because of persistence and rinse-off concerns. The concern is less about skin reactivity and more about environmental profile and framework fit.
Is Polysilicone-2 sustainable?
It is synthetically made from mineral-derived silicon chemistry and petrochemical inputs rather than renewable feedstocks. It is not readily biodegradable, and high-molecular-weight residues can persist in wastewater sludge or sediment.
Is Polysilicone-2 COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted in COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic products as a synthetic silicon-based polymer. Its Green Chemistry fit is weak because it relies on nonrenewable feedstocks and has limited biodegradability, even though it is chemically stable and used at low levels.
How does Polysilicone-2 work chemically?
This compound is a high-molecular-weight polymer built on a silicon-oxygen backbone with organic side groups that lower surface tension and create slip, gloss, conditioning, and film formation. Use levels vary by supplier and format, often in the low single digits for leave-on or hair-care systems, and it is generally pH-stable but needs appropriate emulsifiers or dispersion systems because it is water-insoluble.
Last updated 2026-05-13