Silicones in Skincare: What They Do and Why Some People Skip Them

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If a lotion feels silky the moment it touches your skin, there’s a good chance silicones are part of the reason. They’re among the most common ingredients in modern skincare and makeup, and most people never notice them on the label. Here’s what they are and what they do, without the scare stories.

What silicones are

Silicones are synthetic ingredients built from silicon and oxygen. Chemists can make them thick or thin, lasting or quick to evaporate, which makes them useful in almost any formula.

They don’t come from a plant or an animal. They’re made in a lab, which is part of why they’re so consistent and inexpensive to produce.

What they do in a formula

• They give products slip, so a cream spreads easily and doesn’t drag
• They leave a smooth, soft, powdery finish on the skin
• They form a light film that helps hold other ingredients in place
• Some types evaporate after you apply them, which makes a product feel lighter

That silky feel is real, and a lot of people like it. It’s worth knowing, though, that much of what you notice is how the product feels going on.

How to spot them on a label

Look for ingredient names that end in:

• -cone, as in dimethicone or cyclomethicone
• -siloxane, as in cyclopentasiloxane
• -silane or -conol, as in dimethiconol

They often appear near the top of lotions, primers, and “oil-free” moisturizers.

Why some people skip them

Cosmetic silicones are widely used and generally considered safe on skin. People who avoid them usually do it for other reasons:

1. They prefer ingredients they can trace to a farm or a plant.
2. They want a short list where each ingredient does a clear job.
3. They’d rather feel a product soak in than glide on top.
4. Some cyclic silicones have faced restrictions in Europe over concerns about how long they last in the environment.

None of that makes silicones dangerous. It just means they’re a choice, and some people choose differently.

What Reyic uses instead

Reyic balms contain no silicones. Every jar is grass-fed / finished tallow and organic extra virgin olive oil, and the scented jars add named essential oils. The balm melts with the warmth of your skin and presses in. Au Naturel is the simplest version: tallow and olive oil, nothing else.

FAQ

Are silicones bad for skin?

Cosmetic silicones are widely used and generally considered safe. Skipping them is about preference and simplicity, not about labeling them harmful.

Why does a balm feel different from a silicone lotion?

A silicone lotion is designed to glide and leave a powdery finish. A tallow balm is fat and oil that softens with body heat, so it feels richer at first and then sinks in.

Where should I start with Reyic?

Start with Au Naturel, or compare every balm in the grass-fed tallow balm collection.

Curious how a balm with no silicones feels on your skin? Try Au Naturel, or browse the full collection. For another side-by-side, read Petrolatum vs. Tallow.