When silicones were first offered asingredients for cosmetic products they were the inert dimethicones or so-called silicone oils. Their principal function was as replacement materials for hydrocarbon oils and for imparting water-resistance to barrier creams. Their molecular weight is controlled by the number of O-Si groups in the molecule, and their viscosity ranges from 0.65 est to 1,000,000 est.The higher molecular weight dimethicones are often mixed with cyclomethicones to form so-called silicone gums, which have wide applications in hair care.
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