The rise of silicone oil alternative ingredients: The Green Transformation of the cosmetics Industry

1.Environmental challenges and regulatory restrictions of silicone oil
The wide application of silicone oil has sparked environmental disputes, especially the volatile silicone oils D4, D5 and D6. The European Union will comprehensively restrict its use in consumer products by 2026, and Canada has classified D5 as a toxic component because it may interfere with the endocrine system. Such components are difficult to degrade in the environment and may accumulate for a long time and affect the ecological balance. Although the health risks of silicone oil in cosmetics have been scientifically clarified, its environmental footprint has prompted the industry to accelerate the search for alternative solutions.

2. Breakthroughs in the research and development of natural and synthetic alternative ingredients
To cope with regulatory pressure, the industry is developing a variety of alternatives to silicone oil. For example, ingredients such as ethyl milk thistle lipate and CRODAMOL STS from plant sources can be comparable to silicone oil in terms of moisturizing and spreading properties, and meet the standards of pure beauty. New silicone alternatives such as Lexfeel™ D5CN achieve a skin feel equivalent to traditional silicone oil through 100% plant-based sources and have been certified by the United States Department of Agriculture's BioPriority certification. In addition, functional components such as water-soluble silicone wax and modified silicone oil have demonstrated outstanding performance in areas like sun protection and hair care.

3. Brand Innovation and Market Trends
The brand promotes the process of silicone oil substitution through technological upgrading. For instance, sub-micron silicone oil produced by polymerization emulsification technology has a smaller particle size and uniform dispersion, enabling ultra-thin film formation and avoiding the accumulation problem of traditional silicone oil. The intelligent temperature-controlled silicone oil can adjust its viscosity according to the skin temperature, enhancing the user experience. Market data shows that by 2025, the penetration rate of hydrophilic silicone oil in the personal care sector has exceeded 60%, while modified silicone oil and functional silicone oil account for more than 65%, becoming the mainstream in the market.

4. Consumer Choice and Sustainable Development
Consumers' demand for environmentally friendly products drives market transformation. In the global cosmetics market by 2025, the growth rate of products claiming to be "silicone-free" or "pure beauty" will be significantly higher than that of traditional categories. Experts suggest that consumers can identify alternative ingredients through the ingredient list, such as paying attention to labels like "plant source" and "biodegradable". Meanwhile, the industry is achieving sustainable development through green preparation processes (such as reducing carbon footprints and using renewable raw materials). For instance, the bio-based silicone oil product launched by a certain enterprise has a carbon intensity 52% lower than that of traditional processes. In the future, silicone oil alternative technologies will further drive the cosmetics industry to upgrade towards a green and efficient direction.