Cyclopentasiloxane is a synthetic chemical compound made from petroleum products. It was first synthesized in 1929 and patented by Dow Chemical Company. Since then, it has been widely used in cosmetics and personal care products such as shampoos, conditioners, soaps, nail polish removers and many others. The FDA has not approved any cosmetic product containing cyclopentasiloxane because there are no data showing that it causes cancer or other diseases. However, some studies have shown that cyclopentasiloxane may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Panel on Safety Assessment for Personal Care Products (PCAPP), which is part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), recently reviewed all available scientific evidence related to cyclopentasiloxane and concluded that “cyclopentasiloxane does not present unreasonable risks when used as directed.” The CIR panel noted that the safety of cyclopentasiloxane has been established through decades of research and concluded that there is no reason to change current PCAPP recommendations.
Cyclopentasiloxane is a colorless liquid with a pleasant odor. It is found in most hair dyes, toothpastes, body wash, nail polish remover and many other household items. Cyclopentasiloxane can be manufactured synthetically or naturally. The naturally-occurring type is extracted from the fruit of the South American sand bushes.The most common application of cyclopentasiloxane is as an emollient in cosmetics and personal care products such as shampoos, conditioners, hair sprays, body lotions and sunscreens.
It is also used a a “penetration enhancer,” which means it helps other ingredients to be better absorbed by your skin when applied to the skin.
The most common and safest way for a consumer to encounter cyclopentasiloxane is as an ingredient in cosmetic products. It is generally recognized as safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Canadian Health Authority (Health Canada).
In addition, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel comprehensively reviewed cyclopentasiloxane and confirmed that it does not present any health risk at the levels used in cosmetic products.
Sources & references used in this article:
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Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS)–Final version of the opinion on decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (cyclopentasiloxane, D5) in cosmetic … by C Rousselle – Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 2017 – insights.ovid.com
SCCS OPINION ON decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (cyclopentasiloxane, D5) in cosmetic products by U Bernauer, L Bodin, L Celleno, Q Chaudhry… – 2016 – hal.archives-ouvertes.fr
Effects of emulsifying agents on the safety of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles in sunscreens by GY Seo, JH Lee, JH Kim, JB Shim… – Journal of Dispersion …, 2018 – Taylor & Francis
Amended Final Report of the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel of the by C Cyclomethicone, C Cyclopentasiloxane – 2009 – cyclosiloxanes.org
… the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS)-Final version of the opinion on decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (cyclopentasiloxane, D5) in cosmetic … by U Bernauer, L Bodin, L Celleno, Q Chaudhry… – 2017 – hal.archives-ouvertes.fr
