Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer is an inert silicone elastomer used mainly as a texture/blur and slip agent, typically at low to moderate levels, and it is generally non-reactive and non-sensitizing in patch testing. True irritation is uncommon, but in very compromised or highly reactive skin it can occasionally contribute to stinging or follicular occlusion from the overall formulation/film, so I cannot score it as perfectly inert. On balance, it fits “exceptionally gentle” with very low inherent irritation risk. Safety Notes: In commercial leave-on products (serums, lotions, primers), Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer is often used at very low levels (~0.05–0.5%) as a silicone elastomer rheology/skin-feel modifier, typically supplied pre-dispersed in cyclopentasiloxane or dimethicone. At the high end, consumer-available “blurring” primers, silicone-gel mattifiers, and anhydrous/balm-like smoothing products can use elastomer gels at high load, corresponding to ~10–25% active crosspolymer to build a powdery, cushioned feel and viscosity; rinse-off products generally sit lower because extreme elastomer load can impair foaming/rinse and raise cost. No specific EU/FDA concentration cap applies for this ingredient; practical limits are driven by aesthetics, processing, and stability.