
The 8 Benefits of Tamanu Oil
November 2023
We got an important task on our agenda: to bust some beauty myths about-- TA-DA! -- SILICONES!
WHAT IS SILICONE?
A lot of people assume that silicone is not a natural ingredient, but guess what? Silicone actually originates from sand! It, however, does undergo a chemical process which turns it into a synthetic polymer made up of silicon, oxygen, and other elements.
Silicone is present in a lot of products across industries and, even, opened up so many opportunities in the medical field. It can be found in implants, contact lenses, and even bandages! Hospitals and other medical practices primarily use silicone-based medical adhesives because silicone has an extremely low occurrence of allergic skin reactions. Read that sentence again. LOW OCCURRENCE. Yup, doctors all around the world will tell you that silicone has little to no adverse effects on the skin.
WHAT DO SILICONES DO?
Cosmetic grade silicones were first introduced in the 1950s, offering a number of unique characteristics that helped to improve the feel, appearance, and performance of cosmetic products.
So what roles do silicones actually play in personal care products?
SO… SILICONE-FREE FORMULAS ARE NOT ACTUALLY BETTER FOR THE SKIN?!
Many companies that position themselves as eco-friendly and market their product as “natural” are choosing to create silicone-free formulas. They often substitute silicones for blends of botanical oils and waxes, but this practice does not necessarily make the product you’re using “better”.
While there is certainly a market for these types of formulas, increased use of oils and waxes in formulas could increase the cost of the product, make the formula less acne-prone friendly (as a lot of oils and waxes can clog pores), and in general just feel heavier and more tacky on the skin. Unlike silicones whose molecular size is too large to seep into pores, vegetable and nut oils often have a molecular size that will pass through pores easily and absorb into the skin and in some instances clogging pores.
So yeah. Silicone-free formulas are not necessarily a better option for you and if anyone is telling you otherwise - now you’re equipped with enough knowledge to decide for yourself!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SILICONES, WATCH LIAH’S LATEST VIDEO:
All the skincare basics covering routines, skin concerns, ingredients, and more.