Cyclopentasiloxane for Skin: The Complete Guide

It's a mouthful, but it's actually quite common.

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Liz deSousa for BYRDIE

Cyclopentasiloxane might not exactly be an ingredient on your radar (we'll be the first to admit it wasn't on ours a short time ago either), but we'd be willing to bet you've heard of silicones. You see, cyclopentasiloxane is a form of silicone that's pretty commonly used these days in skincare and haircare products. And as you know, the topic of silicones in your products is a highly debated one. Getting a grasp of cyclopentasilxone and how it functions in skincare is no easy feat (almost as hard as it is to spell or pronounce), so we turned to Morgan Rabach, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of LM Medical in NYC, cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson of BeautyStat, and independent cosmetic chemist Perry Romanowski of The Beauty Brains to clear a few things up for us. Keep reading to find out more about the controversial ingredient so you can make your own informed decision about whether or not to continue using products containing cyclopentasiloxane.


Type of ingredient: Emollient, lubricant, and solvent

Main benefits: Gives products a silky texture, seals hydration, and dissolves heavier ingredients

Who should use it: In general, anyone looking to soften their skin with a lightweight product

How often can you use it: Cyclopentasiloxane is safe to use on a daily basis.

Works well with: Robinson says it works well when combined with heavier oils or silicones because it makes them easier to spread on the skin.

Don't use with: Cyclopentasiloxane works well with most, if not, all other ingredients.

What Is Cyclopentasiloxane?

As if the name "cyclopentasiloxane" wasn't hard enough to say, we should point out that it's also known as decamethylcyclopentasiloxane. But no need to stress—you can keep it simple and call it D5, its other commonly used name, for short. Cyclopentasiloxane is described by Robinson as a silicon-based compound, and it's part of a larger category called cyclomethicone. It functions primarily as an emollient, comes in a colorless and odorless liquid form, and is found in a vast array of beauty products from skincare to haircare.

Benefits of Cylcopentasiloxane

Although cyclopentasiloxane has minimal benefits specific to the skin, it does have notable sensory properties and also helps in how the product functions.

  • Spreads easily: Silicones are known for their slippery glide and smooth feel. Rabach says cyclopentasiloxane gives products a silky smooth texture that applies easily and leaves a non-greasy finish.
  • Is inexpensive: Rabach says because cyclopentasiloxane is cheaper than other similar silicones, your products that contain it will also be more affordable as a result.
  • Evaporates quickly: Cyclopentasiloxane is volatile, so it's often included in product formulations because it allows the products to dry faster.
  • Is lightweight: Robinson says some silicones are heavy, but this one is particularly lightweight and used when a lighter feel is desired. This trait is especially helpful in haircare products so as not to weigh down the hair strands.
  • Disperses heavier ingredients: Robinson says cyclopentasiloxane works well when combined with heavier oils or silicones because it makes them easier to spread and provides a nice feel to the skin.
  • Seals hydration: According to Rabach, cyclopentasilxone forms a seal or barrier on the skin. This barrier protects against transepidermal water loss (TEWL), which can lead to inflammatory conditions. Cyclopentasiloxane also works similarly when used on the hair by coating the hair shaft. The molecular structure of silicones (large molecules with wide spaces between each molecule) means that the barrier they form is permeable, preventing the skin from "suffocating".

Side Effects of Cyclopentasiloxane

According to Rabach and Robinson, cyclopentasiloxane has no known side effects. It is not shown to cause irritation or sensitization and is generally well-tolerated. However, when trying any new product, always test it on a small area of skin first before applying it all over.

If you've researched the ingredient online, you'll see that the main concern comes from claims that it can act as a hormone disruptor, but Rabach says this isn't a valid concern. As she explains it, an ingredient needs to be absorbed into the skin to act as a hormone or endocrine disruptor, and according to one study, there was minimal percutaneous absorption (aka not a level that's cause for concern).﻿﻿ This is supported by another study that proves the cyclopentasiloxane evaporates before any significant absorption. Romanowski adds that toxicology experts give it a daily safety margin exposure of 700X.﻿﻿ For reference, a margin of exposure greater than or equal to 100 is generally considered to be protective

"Hormone disruption is not a very specific thing," Romanowski explains. "It's very complicated, and as with all these things, the dose makes the poison. One molecule of cyclomethicone is not going to significantly impact your health, whether it is a hormone disruptor or not."

As for whether using cyclopentasiloxane with skin-penetrating elements like alcohol would, in turn, drive the silicone deeper into the skin, Romanowski says there is no cause for concern. "Some ingredients will help other ingredients penetrate a bit deeper but not so deep that they get into the dermis," Romanowski explains. "Also, alcohol does not really help with penetration as it evaporates too quickly."

One side effect to keep in mind is the impact cyclopentasiloxane has on the environment. Because they are chemically inert and very stable, their biodegradability is quite low meaning it could take years for them to decompose, thus disrupting the environment. The European Union has called for limits of concentrations of the ingredient used in wash-off cosmetics to less than 0.1%, effective January 31, 2020.

How to Use It

Robinson says cyclopentasiloxane is safe for daily use, but how frequently and how much of the product containing the ingredient you should use depends on the product in question. For instance, if you're using it in the form of a moisturizer (one of its common vehicles), apply it after your toners and serums to seal the products underneath it and improve absorption.

The Best Products With Cyclopentasiloxane

BeautyStat Universal C Skin Refiner
BeautyStat Universal C Skin Refiner $80

This vitamin C treatment from Robinson's line isn't just a favorite of his; it sold out in a mere 24 hours when it launched. Not only does this powerful brightening serum fade existing dark spots, but it also stops new pigment from forming. What also sets this serum apart from the rest is its texture. As opposed to the usual liquid form of vitamin C products that leave the skin feeling sticky or slippery, this gel-cream formula leaves behind a silky after-feel—and Robinson credits cyclopentasiloxane for that.

Dove Advanced Care Sensitive Anti-Perspirant Deodorant
Dove Advanced Care Sensitive Anti-Perspirant Deodorant $5

Attention sensitive skin types: This unscented, alcohol- and sulfate-free deodorant is a must-try if you constantly struggle with irritation from your current antiperspirant and is one of our favorites. Almost as annoying as having irritated skin is waiting for your deodorant to dry before you get dressed. The sweat protection of this antiperspirant lasts up to 48 hours, but thanks to the volatile cyclopentasiloxane in this formula, the product only needs a few seconds to set.

Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation
Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation $66

If a lightweight, silky-smooth texture is something you look for in a foundation (yes, please), then you should try a formula that contains cyclopentasiloxane, like this breathable liquid foundation by Oxygenetix. Its ability to feel weightless on the skin yet cover all different variations of skin redness can only be explained by magic. One beauty writer even devoted an entire Byrdie article to her love for the product and its impressive ability to cover post-treatment redness.

Son & Park Beauty Filter Cream Glow
Son & Park Beauty Filter Cream Glow $32

One Byrdie editor who swears by this primer-lotion hybrid says it gives her an angel-like glow that lasts long after it's applied. Fans of the product love it for its lightweight feel and nice slip once applied (all credit to cyclopentasiloxane for that). The best part? This multitasking formula can be used to prep, hydrate, and illuminate the skin all in one simple step.

Embryolisse Lait Creme Rich Corps - Rich Body Moisturizing Lotion
Embryolisse Lait Creme Rich Corps - Rich Body Moisturizing Lotion $20

One thing the French do oh-so-right is their skincare, and Embryolisse is one of our favorite French brands. This body lotion uses a combination of skin nourishers shea butter and glycerin mixed with cyclopentasiloxane to soften and hydrate the skin without leaving a heavy film or stickiness behind.

Elta MD AM Therapy Facial Moisturizer
EltaMD AM Therapy Facial Moisturizer $34

A top pick by dermatologists, this morning moisturizer is perfect for layering under makeup (thank you, cyclopentasiloxane), but you likely won't need to. With ingredients like niacinamide to improve skin tone, dullness, and texture, vitamin C to brighten, and hyaluronic acid to plump, your skin will be even and glowing on its own.

oribe Imperméable Anti-Humidity Spray
Oribe Imperméable Anti-Humidity Spray $42

Since cyclopentasiloxane or cyclomethicone are so commonly used in haircare, it would be remiss to not include a hair styling product on this list. One of the benefits of this ingredient, when used in haircare products, is its ability to create a waterproof seal on the hair. This anti-humidity spray effectively prevents water from penetrating the hair shaft and causing frizz, and it's all thanks to cyclopentasiloxane.

Up next: The 30 skincare ingredients you need to know about.

Article Sources
  1. Johnson, Wilbur, et al. Safety Assessment of Cyclomethicone, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, and Cycloheptasiloxane. International Journal of Toxicology, vol. 30, no. 6_suppl, 2011, doi:10.1177/1091581811428184

  2. Moddaresi, Mojgan, and Mojgan Moddaresi, Dr. D4/D5 Regulation Update: Cyclosiloxanes in the EU: Prospector. Prospector Knowledge Center, 27 Feb. 2019.

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