What is Dimethicone?
Chemically, Dimethicone is a silicone. A breathable silicone that smooths and blurs. Rated 1/5 and fungal-acne safe; occasionally blamed for congestion when layered heavily, but the ingredient itself is low-risk.
You may see it on labels as Dimethicone, Polydimethylsiloxane, Pdms, so it can hide under more than one name in an ingredient list.
Where Dimethicone shows up
Dimethicone is commonly formulated into primers, serums, moisturisers, and hair products, where it smooths and blurs. Separately from clogging, its irritancy is rated 0/5 — low, so it's unlikely to sting or sensitise on its own.
Is Dimethicone bad for acne-prone skin?
Because it barely registers on the comedogenic scale, Dimethicone is generally a safe pick for breakout-prone skin and is often recommended as a gentler alternative to heavier ingredients.
Worth flagging: Dimethicone's rating is disputed. Credible sources land on different numbers, which is why we show a range rather than a single score — and why your own experience is the best tiebreaker.