CYCLOHEXASILOXANE

📋 Quick facts

Description: CYCLOHEXASILOXANE — silicone, lightweight smoothing, fast evaporating.

All Functions: silicone, lightweight smoothing, fast evaporating

Quick Facts:

• Category: emollient

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Cyclohexasiloxane (D6) is a siloxane used in cosmetics as a skin and hair conditioning agent
• It was developed as a replacement for other siloxanes (D4 and D5) that were restricted due to environmental concerns
• Minimal absorption through skin was observed in safety testing
• No skin irritation, sensitization, or genetic damage was found in laboratory tests
• The safety evaluation for D6 is less complete than for the siloxanes it replaced

⚗️ Chemical Overview

Dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane is an organosilicon compound. cyclomethicone 6 has been reported in Streptomyces with data available. See also: Cyclohexasiloxane (annotation moved to).

Source(s): PubChem, ChEBI, LOTUS – the natural products occurrence database, via PubChem

📊 Comedogenicity

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

⚠️ Allergen Warning

CYCLOHEXASILOXANE is listed as an EU-recognized allergen (contact) and must be disclosed on product labels above the required threshold concentration.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Cyclohexasiloxane, often called D6, belongs to a family of silicone-based compounds called cyclic siloxanes. These are chainlike molecules made of silicon and oxygen atoms, and they’re valued in skincare for their ability to condition skin and hair (Int J Toxicol, 2011). #1: Skin absorption is minimal. When applied topically, very little of this ingredient penetrates through the skin barrier into the body, meaning systemic exposure—the amount that reaches your bloodstream—is very low (Int J Toxicol, 2011). #2: Laboratory irritation and sensitization tests came back negative. Researchers tested D6 for skin irritation, eye irritation, and skin sensitization (the likelihood of triggering an allergic reaction) and found no adverse effects in any of these tests (Toxicol Res, 2024).

#3: Genetic safety testing showed no concerns. Genotoxicity tests, which check whether a substance damages DNA, were negative for D6 (Toxicol Res, 2024). However, important limitations exist: The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel’s 2011 conclusion that cyclomethicone and related cyclic siloxanes are safe was based on “present practices of use and concentration” (Int J Toxicol, 2011). More recently, a 2024 risk assessment noted that D6’s safety profile remains less thoroughly evaluated than the older siloxanes (D4 and D5) it replaced, and raised questions about whether D6 itself might accumulate in the environment or body over time—concerns still under investigation (Toxicol Res, 2024).

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Ko Y et al. (2024). Risk assessment of cyclohexasiloxane D6 in cosmetic products. Toxicol Res.
• Johnson W Jr et al. (2011). Safety assessment of cyclomethicone, cyclotetrasiloxane, cyclopentasiloxane, cyclohexasiloxane, and cycloheptasiloxane. Int J Toxicol.

🧴 Products Containing CYCLOHEXASILOXANE

• La Roche-Posay Effaclar AI – Correcteur Ciblé
• Primark Red Lipstick
• Shisara Augen Make-up Entferner
• primer amino keratina loquay
• Deborah Face perfect primer
• Giardino dei Sensi Crema Manu romantica orchidea
• Disaar Vitamine c
• Roots of strength body shop
• L’OREAL NORGE AS L Oréal Paris True Match 1.R/1.C Rose Ivory Foundation
• L’OREAL NORGE AS L’Oréal Paris True Match 3.R/3.C Rose Beige Foundation
• L’OREAL NORGE AS L Oréal Paris True Match 5.R/5.C Rose Sand Foundation
• L’OREAL NORGE AS L Oréal Paris True Match 3.D/3.W Golden Beige Foundation
• Fotoprotector ISDIN Fotoprotector ISDIN Gel Cream 30 SPF
• Deliplus Toallitas desmaquillantes Micelar & Oil
• l-oreal, l-oreal-consumer-products, l-oreal-paris, L’Oréal Men Expert Stop Rides Soin Hydratant Anti-rides d’expression Boswelox
• Rituals Infinity Organic Mandarin & Mint lotion ultra soignante pour les mains
• L’Oréal,L’Oreal Consumer products,L’Oréal Paris,Accord Parfait Accord Parfait fond de teint unifiant sur-mesure Lin
• maybelline new York fit me
• Unilever, Tresemmé Flawless Curls Mousse
• Unilever, Dove Extra Fresh Antiperspirant
• Palmer Palmer’s Olive Oil Formula Deep Conditioner
• Revlon Colorstay™ Foundation 110 Ivory
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• milk_shake milk_shake Incredible Milk Leave-In Treatment
• Kiehl’s Ultra facial cream
• Biocura, Biocura Beauty Anti-âge Soin de jour Q10 Active
• l-oreal Age Perfect Soin Ré-hydratant Jour
• Leader Price Déospray anti-transpirant 24h
• Avène, Eau Thermale Avène, Laboratoires Dermatologiques Avène, Pierre Fabre, Ysthéal Ysthéal Intense concentré antirides rénovateur de peau
• Eau Thermale Avene Eau Thermale Avéne A-Oxitive Nuit
• Leader Price Soin hydratant peaux sèches & sensibles
• Avène Crème peaux intolérantes
• Avène, Pierre Fabre TriXéra+ selectiose – Eau thermale Avène
• La Roche-Posay Lait solaire anthelios XL 50+
• Mixa Solaire Brume Solaire Protection Renforcée Peau Sensible Spf50+
• Bioderma Photoderm Après-soleil
• Bioderma Bioderma Photoderm Après soleil
• Bioderma Atoderm Crème
• Bioderma Photoderm Max SPF 50+ – Aquafluide
• La Roche-Posay CICAPLAST Accélérateur de réparation épidermique