lacvietintech
Cấp Nhôm
As the crusade for cleaner beauty products continues, skin care ingredients that were once considered standard are rightfully being called into question.
Take parabens, for example. Now that we know the once-popular preservatives are also potentially carcinogenic endocrine disruptors, beauty brands are removing them from their formulations and slapping “paraben-free” stickers on everything. The same for phthalates, sulfates, formaldehydes, and a whole host of other possibly dangerous ingredients.
While most experts support the removal of parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and more from skin care, one group of ingredients that’s made the “free from” lists is still up for debate: silicones.
On one side of the argument, you have those who say silicones make skin look healthier without actually contributing to its overall health.
On the other side, you have those who say silicones aren’t technically harmful, so there’s no harm in keeping them in skin care products.
Which side is science on? Well, both. Kind of. It’s complicated.
First, what exactly are silicones?
“Silicones are a group of semi-liquid substances derived from silica,” Dr. Joshua Zeichner, a board certified dermatologist with Zeichner Dermatology in New York City, tells Healthline.
Silica is the main component of sand, but that doesn’t mean that silicones fall under the “natural” umbrella. Silica has to go through a significant chemical process to become silicone.
Silicones are best known for their occlusive properties, which is a fancy way of saying that they form a barrier-like coating on the skin that’s resistant to both water and air. Zeichner likens it to a “breathable film.”
“Used medically, silicones have been provenTrusted Source to help heal wounds and improve scarring,” says Dr. Deanne Mraz Robinson, a board certified dermatologist and member of the Healthline advisory board.
“They have long been used in burn units because they can uniquely heal and protect while allowing the wound to ‘breathe.’”
Basically, their occlusive nature blocks lacerations from interacting with the outside environment, ensuring that the wound stays in its own little healing “bubble.”
“They also have a unique texture, giving skin care products a slick feel,” Zeichner says. This sums up the main role of silicones in serums and moisturizers: They make for easy application, lend a velvety texture, and often leave skin looking plump and smooth, thanks to that filmy coating.
So, why don’t people like them?
Honestly, all of that sounds pretty great. So, uh, why don’t people like silicones? There are a few reasons.
The argument: The benefits of silicones are only superficial
The verdict: Unless you’re dealing with an open wound on your face, silicones don’t provide any tangible benefits to the skin. “In cosmetic products, they mostly deliver a pleasant-feeling carrier base,” Mraz Robinson says. Think thick, blendable serums and moisturizers.
Silicones smooth over any rough patches and lock in moisture. So, while silicone-filled serums and moisturizers might make your face look and feel nice in the moment, they don’t contribute to the long-term health and improvement of your skin.
As soon as you wash the product off, you wash away the benefits.
The argument: These ingredients are harder to wash off and get stuck in pores
The verdict: “Silicones are hydrophobic,” Mraz Robinson says. In layman’s terms: They repel water.
For this reason, silicone-based products don’t rinse away easily.
So, if you do slather on the silicones every once in a while, oil cleanse or double cleanse before bed to keep your complexion free and clear.
Take parabens, for example. Now that we know the once-popular preservatives are also potentially carcinogenic endocrine disruptors, beauty brands are removing them from their formulations and slapping “paraben-free” stickers on everything. The same for phthalates, sulfates, formaldehydes, and a whole host of other possibly dangerous ingredients.
While most experts support the removal of parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and more from skin care, one group of ingredients that’s made the “free from” lists is still up for debate: silicones.
On one side of the argument, you have those who say silicones make skin look healthier without actually contributing to its overall health.
On the other side, you have those who say silicones aren’t technically harmful, so there’s no harm in keeping them in skin care products.
Which side is science on? Well, both. Kind of. It’s complicated.
First, what exactly are silicones?
“Silicones are a group of semi-liquid substances derived from silica,” Dr. Joshua Zeichner, a board certified dermatologist with Zeichner Dermatology in New York City, tells Healthline.
Silica is the main component of sand, but that doesn’t mean that silicones fall under the “natural” umbrella. Silica has to go through a significant chemical process to become silicone.
Silicones are best known for their occlusive properties, which is a fancy way of saying that they form a barrier-like coating on the skin that’s resistant to both water and air. Zeichner likens it to a “breathable film.”
“Used medically, silicones have been provenTrusted Source to help heal wounds and improve scarring,” says Dr. Deanne Mraz Robinson, a board certified dermatologist and member of the Healthline advisory board.
“They have long been used in burn units because they can uniquely heal and protect while allowing the wound to ‘breathe.’”
Basically, their occlusive nature blocks lacerations from interacting with the outside environment, ensuring that the wound stays in its own little healing “bubble.”
“They also have a unique texture, giving skin care products a slick feel,” Zeichner says. This sums up the main role of silicones in serums and moisturizers: They make for easy application, lend a velvety texture, and often leave skin looking plump and smooth, thanks to that filmy coating.
So, why don’t people like them?
Honestly, all of that sounds pretty great. So, uh, why don’t people like silicones? There are a few reasons.
The argument: The benefits of silicones are only superficial
The verdict: Unless you’re dealing with an open wound on your face, silicones don’t provide any tangible benefits to the skin. “In cosmetic products, they mostly deliver a pleasant-feeling carrier base,” Mraz Robinson says. Think thick, blendable serums and moisturizers.
Silicones smooth over any rough patches and lock in moisture. So, while silicone-filled serums and moisturizers might make your face look and feel nice in the moment, they don’t contribute to the long-term health and improvement of your skin.
As soon as you wash the product off, you wash away the benefits.
The argument: These ingredients are harder to wash off and get stuck in pores
The verdict: “Silicones are hydrophobic,” Mraz Robinson says. In layman’s terms: They repel water.
For this reason, silicone-based products don’t rinse away easily.
So, if you do slather on the silicones every once in a while, oil cleanse or double cleanse before bed to keep your complexion free and clear.
