Good Emollient Dermal Penetration

Phenyl Trimethicone

INCI: PHENYL TRIMETHICONE

CAS Number
2116-84-9
Function
emollient, hair conditioning, optical enhancer, refractive-index modifier
Safety Rating
GOOD

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status permitted
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes No FDA restriction; not separately assessed by CIR but falls within general silicone polymer safety framework; widely used in hair gloss and anti-aging serums

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
adequate
Dermal Absorption
negligible
Sensitization
none

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Dermal Penetration Profile

Skin absorption and penetration characteristics of Phenyl Trimethicone, relevant to systemic exposure and MoS calculations.

Absorption %
0.1-0.5%
Penetration Level
surface
Penetration Depth
surface only
Molecular Weight
296.6 Da
Log P
6.2
Systemic Absorption
minimal
Topical Bioavailability
0.05-0.2%
Safety Margin Factor
minimal

Source: CIR

Expert Verdict

Phenyl-substituted silicone delivering superior shine versus standard dimethicone by more closely matching hair's refractive index (~1.46 versus ~1.40 for dimethicone). Key ingredient in hair gloss serums, thermal protectants, and anti-aging skin care where optical brightening is desired. Provides heat protection above 200°C. Not subject to D4/D5/D6 EU restrictions. Well-tolerated at cosmetic use levels.

⚠️
Concern Level: Low

Regulatory Flags

non-volatile-silicone high-molecular-weight optical-enhancer heat-protection shine-booster cosmos-prohibited

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Phenyl Trimethicone safe in cosmetics?

Phenyl-substituted silicone delivering superior shine versus standard dimethicone by more closely matching hair's refractive index (~1.46 versus ~1.40 for dimethicone). Key ingredient in hair gloss serums, thermal protectants, and anti-aging skin care where optical brightening is desired. Provides heat protection above 200°C. Not subject to D4/D5/D6 EU restrictions. Well-tolerated at cosmetic use levels. The EU classifies Phenyl Trimethicone as "permitted". Safety rating: GOOD.

Is Phenyl Trimethicone allowed in the EU?

Phenyl Trimethicone EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Phenyl Trimethicone do in cosmetics?

Phenyl Trimethicone functions as: emollient, hair conditioning, optical enhancer, refractive-index modifier. It is classified as a Emollient in our database. CAS number: 2116-84-9.

What is the Margin of Safety for Phenyl Trimethicone?

adequate The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.

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