murphyCyclomethicone
AKA: Silicone
Synthetic
Emollient
Solvent
Skin Conditioner
Hair Care
Silicone
Not Clean
OriginCyclomethicone is synthesized from siloxane monomers, a class of silicon-oxygen polymer compounds. It is produced through catalytic ring-opening polymerization of cyclic siloxane precursors.
Cyclomethicone is a generic name for a mixture of cyclic dimethyl polysiloxane compounds that conform to the formula, where n has a value between 4 and 6.
Formula
C10H30O5Si5
Mol. Weight
370.77
CAS #
69430-24-6, 556-67-2, 541-02-6, 540-97-6
Form
Liquid
State
Liquid
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
Functions
Hair Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Emollient
Fills in the tiny cracks between skin cells to make everything feel smooth and soft. The "silky finish" ingredient.
Solvent
Dissolves other ingredients so they distribute evenly in the formula. Often the invisible "base" everything else is mixed into.
Locks In Moisture
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewednone on file
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed4 reviews →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
EWG
6
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
Restricted By
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
3 studies / 3 not sensitizing / plus 1 case report (CIR 119 and 497)
Eye Irritant in Testing
1 study / 1 irritating / reactions slight (CIR 119)
Mixed Skin Irritation Results
4 studies / 1 mixed / 3 not irritating / reactions slight (CIR 119)
Regulatory Agencies
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR