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Key Insights
- Definition: silicones are synthetic polymers used in beauty products to create a smooth texture.
- Concerns: Regular use of silicones can trap impurities and interfere with the skin’s natural renewal process.
- Brand Usage: Many brands use silicones for their cost-effectiveness and ability to provide a luxurious feel.
- Alternatives: Switching to silicone-free products can support healthier skin and enhance its natural barrier.
Before I got into clean beauty, I would never have known what to look for in my makeup. Silicones?! Seem fine to me!? But, the truth is, I knew nothing about ingredients, what to look for or why most were bad!? So, I set out on a mission, to not only learn more, for myself, but to learn more to share with you too and today, we’re doing a deep dive into the World of Silicones so, if you ever find yourself confused on what silicones are, which brands use them the most, why they are bad and where they hide in an ingredient list, this new blog is just for you!
What Are Silicones!?
Silicones are one of the most common ingredients in conventional beauty and makeup products, but they’re also one of the most misunderstood. Silicones are synthetic polymers derived from silica, designed to create a smooth, velvety texture on the skin. You’ll find them in everything from primers and foundations to skincare, because they give that “blurring” effect, fill in fine lines, and make formulas glide on effortlessly, the best right?! While they can create an instant polished or flawless filtered look, the long-term effects on skin are far less glamorous, thus why I always steer clear of them as best I can.
Why Are Silicones Bad?!
One of the main concerns with silicones is how they interfere with the skin’s natural renewal process. Silicones form a semi-occlusive barrier on the surface, which can trap sweat, dead skin cells, sebum, and bacteria underneath, hello breakouts!? Over time, this can lead to congested pores, blackheads, and acne, especially for those with oily or acne-prone skin. Because silicones don’t allow the skin to breathe, regular use can also result in dullness, slower cell turnover, and a compromised barrier, making it harder for active ingredients to penetrate and actually work. To put it simply, silicones create a barrier over your skin to trap bad guys in and keep the good guys out!
Why Brands Use Silicones!?
Many mainstream brands use silicones heavily because they’re cheap, stable, and give an immediate “luxury” slip to products, selling you the illusion of luxury and flawless skin! Brands like Haus Labs and other celebrity or department store makeup lines rely on them to create that silky, poreless finish. However, that finish is often just a temporary illusion. Once the product is removed, the skin underneath is often found to be much more dehydrated and congested than before. Brands use silicones so often because they give us consumers that instant “wow” moment as they blur pores, smooth skin, and make makeup glide on like silk!
But, the truth is silicones are cheap, chemically stable, and make products feel luxurious, which is why even high-end lines lean on them. Unfortunately, this prioritizes texture over skin health, masking problems rather than addressing them. Silicones can also interfere with the natural exfoliation process, leading to texture buildup, making skin look uneven over time and as we mentioned above, stopping your skincare from working as best as it can which means a total waste of money on your favorite skincare. It can’t work, your silicones are blocking it!
Haus Labs, Makeup By Mario, Armani Luminous Silk, Fenty Beauty, Charlotte Tilbury, Merit Beauty, Estee Lauder Double Wear are just a few of the brands using silicones in their foundations!
How To Spot Them!?
Even scarier, is so many brands market themselves as non comedogenic yet they are loaded with silicones which only make acne-prone skin worse! So, how do we spot them on a label!? Let’s discuss! Not all silicones are the same, but some of the worst offenders for skin health include Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, and Trimethylsiloxysilicate. These are particularly persistent on the skin, harder to wash off, and more likely to trap debris and disrupt the skin’s microbiome. Some cyclic silicones like Cyclopentasiloxane and Cyclohexasiloxane are also flagged for environmental persistence and potential endocrine-disrupting effects, raising both skin and sustainability concerns. Check out how many silicones are in the Haus Labs foundation!? A whopping THIRTEEN!
What To Use Instead!?
Not only do silicones hide in your favorite foundations, they are also in your hair care, skin care and so much more! Switching to silicone-free, clean beauty foundations and skincare is one of the best ways to support your skin’s natural barrier. Here at Organic Bunny, we avoid silicones as often as we can, opting for formulas like the RMS Beauty Revolve Foundation or the Inika Beauty Serum Foundation instead!
The RMS “ReEvolve” Foundation and the Inika Serum Foundation are both excellent clean beauty options, but they target different preferences and skin types. RMS ReEvolve is ideal for anyone who loves a full glam, perfected look as it gives a smooth, pore-blurring finish similar to Estée Lauder Double Wear but with MUCH cleaner ingredients! It has more coverage and a creamier texture, making it perfect for those with larger pores, uneven texture, or those who want a flawless base that holds up beautifully for events or long days.
The Inika Serum Foundation, on the other hand, offers lightweight but impressive coverage that looks and feels more like skin. It’s best for people with balanced or smooth skin texture who want breathable coverage that evens tone without feeling heavy. While it won’t blur pores as much as RMS, it gives a natural, radiant finish that’s perfect for everyday wear, especially if your skin is already in good condition. I use and love both depending on my needs or goals each day! For more glam events, I do RMS. For brunch or more casual glam, I reach for Inika! Both are amazing.
Both formulas allow skin to breathe, regulate oil naturally, and absorb nutrients more effectively, leading to clearer, brighter, and more resilient skin over time. Clean brands often use botanical oils, plant waxes, or natural silicones like squalane to achieve a smooth finish without suffocating the skin. If you’re struggling with acne, clogged pores, or dullness and use conventional makeup daily, eliminating silicones is often a game-changer for restoring long-term skin health! Want to try out a silicone-free foundation but not sure where to start?
Book a FREE consult with our in-house Esthetician today to get color matched for a brand new formula, perfect for you!