What are “Cone” Chemicals in Cosmetics?

Countless cosmetics are filled with chemicals known as “cones,” such as dimethicone or silicone. While cones aren’t the worst health offenders, they’re a nightmare for skin. They seal off pores, preventing your skin from breathing and functioning properly. Think of it like putting a sheet of plastic wrap over your face - suffocating. They trap skin’s oils, along with dirt and pollution, leading to clogged pores. Cones take skin congestion to the next level of dysfunction by making it much harder to clear and clean.

Clogged pores also prevent anything from penetrating skin, including products you apply with beneficial active ingredients. Plus, waste can’t be expelled. This makes your skin’s natural oils go rancid, which breaks down collagen and thus accelerates aging.

Cones look and feel amazing when applied, but don’t be fooled, they wreak havoc. For example, many makeup primers contain cones. They may give you an instantly smooth complexion, but in the long run they actually age your skin. Products containing cones can exacerbate other skin issues, too, such as breakouts, redness, dryness, and oil overproduction.

Ready to ditch the cone-filled products? Skin needs a deep-pore cleaning/detoxing in order to stay healthy, young, vibrant, and to readily absorb what’s put on it. You’ll notice the difference once your pores are clean and clear and your skin can breathe and function properly!

Be mindful of what you put on your skin. This includes products, like shampoo, that aren’t applied directly to skin, but flow over it. If you’re attached to your products, try washing your hair to the side (so the product doesn’t flow over your face), or in the sink. As mentioned above, makeup is also often cone-filled. Read your primer and foundation ingredients carefully. That said, as consumers awareness about cones and other chemicals increases, the cosmetic industry still finds ways to hide them in your products by switching up the names.

Here are some ingredients to look for that are, in fact, cone chemicals:

  • AMODIMETHICONE
  • BEHENOXY DIMETHICONE
  • CETEARYL METHICONE
  • CETYL DIMETHICONE
  • CYCLOMETHICONE
  • CYCLOPENTASILOXANE
  • DIMETICON
  • DIMETHICONE 500
  • DIMETHICONE COPOLYOL
  • DIMETHICONE/OL
  • DIMETHYLPOLYSILOXAN
  • DIMETHICONE SATIN
  • E900
  • HYDROLIZED WHEAT PROTEIN
  • HYDROXYPROPYL POLYSILOXANE
  • ISO DIMETHICONE COPOLYMER
  • LAURYL METHICONE COPOLYOL
  • METHYLPOLYSILOXAN
  • PEG 8 DIMETHICONE
  • PHENYL TRIMETHICONE
  • POLYDIMETHYLSILOXANE (PDMS)
  • POLY (DIMETHYLSILOXAN)
  • POLY SILANE
  • PPG-18 DIMETHICONE
  • SILOCONOL
  • SILOL
  • STEARYL DIMETHICONE
  • STEAROXY DIMETHICONE
  • TRIMETHYLSILYLAMODIMETHIC
  • TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATES

Article by Debbi Burnes, founder of Sumbody, natural products for your body. For more natural beauty recipes, check out Debbi Burne’s book, Natural Beauty Skin Care: 110 Organic Formulas for a Radiant You!

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