Is Methicone safe in cosmetics?
Methicone has a safety rating of "EXCELLENT" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
Excellent
Emollient
Methicone
INCI: METHICONE
Methicone (CAS 9004-73-3) is a cosmetic emollient functioning as emollient, skin-conditioning, film-forming. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in food safety data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 9004-73-3 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
emollient, skin-conditioning, film-forming
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Included in CIR Final Amended Report March 2022 for 30 methicone/dimethicone polymers; concluded safe as used
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Methicone.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Additional Ingredient Properties
2 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
ecotoxicity
{"biodegradable": "no", "biodegradation_days": "1200+", "bioaccumulative": "yes", "aquatic_toxicity_level": "low", "coral_reef_safe": "unknown", "marine_toxicity": "low toxicity", "freshwater_toxicity": "very persistent", "soil_toxicity": "sediment accumulation", "endocrine_disruptor": "no", "persistent_organic_pollutant": "yes", "microplastic": "no", "nano_particle": "no", "hawaii_banned": "no", …
silicone
{"cas_number": "68037-59-2", "silicone_class": "silicone_resin", "molecular_weight_Da": "950.0", "viscosity_cSt": "55", "volatility": "non_volatile", "evaporation_rate_relative_to_D5": "0.035", "refractive_index": "1.4095", "specific_gravity": "1.045", "flash_point_C": "138.0", "surface_tension_mN_m": "25.5", "spreading_coefficient": "2.95", "film_forming_ability": "excellent", "skin_feel": "silky…
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Lubricating agent
Wetting agent (non-aqueous)
Regulatory List Membership (1)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Methicone.
Regulatory Flags
cir-approved
non-volatile-silicone
high-molecular-weight
cosmos-prohibited
fda_food_additive
Chemical Function
Wetting agent (non-aqueous)
Lubricating agent
Regulatory Lists
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in food safety data.
SOURCE
EFSA / FDA GRAS
food_additives
Food Safety Data
Same-CAS food additive or FDA GRAS records from the core public database.
Food Name
METHYLPOLYSILICONE
Food Category
food_additive
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Methicone allowed in the EU?
Methicone EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Methicone do in cosmetics?
Methicone functions as: emollient, skin-conditioning, film-forming. It is classified as a Emollient in our database. CAS number: 9004-73-3.
Is Methicone used outside cosmetics?
Methicone also appears in food safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Methicone compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
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