active
Silicone Film Former
Silicone polymer-based film formers providing water resistance, long wear, and adhesion in colour cosmetics and eyeshadow sticks.
Benefits
- Long-wear water resistance
- Superior colour adhesion to skin
- Waterproof or water-resistant performance in colour cosmetics
- Film flexibility without brittleness
- Sebum-resistant wear
Example uses
- Eyeshadow sticks
- Long-wear lip products
- Waterproof mascaras
- Long-wear foundations
- Eyeliner formulations
Mechanism of action
Silicone resin network forms a continuous, water-resistant, sebum-resistant film on the skin surface via film formation on solvent evaporation. The crosslinked silicone network is inherently flexible and thermally stable, maintaining water and sebum resistance under use conditions.
Clinical evidence · High
Function definitively characterised. CIR safety confirmed. Environmental persistence documented.
Effective concentration range
2–15% in colour cosmetics
Formulation notes
Anhydrous or low-water formulations. Provides film continuity on skin surface. Incompatible with highly alkaline systems.
Watchouts
Non-biodegradable silicone polymer — environmental persistence concern as with other silicones. No significant human safety concern. Excluded from environmental clean-beauty standards.
Controversies & overclaims
Same environmental persistence concern as other non-biodegradable silicones. Human safety excellent.
Market positioning
Marketed as performance long-wear film former. Accurate. Environmental persistence same concern as other silicone polymers.
Comedogenicity
1 / 5
Sensitisation risk
Low
INCI & aliases
trimethylsiloxysilicate · vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer · silicone resins · methicone film former
Clean beauty perception
Contested in clean beauty on environmental persistence grounds. Human safety excellent.
Graph relationships
Timeline