Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer is a crosslinked silicone elastomer formed from dimethicone and fatty alcohol groups. It's used in skincare and makeup to create a velvety slip, reduce greasy feel, stabilize formulas, and give a soft-focus finish.
A silky silicone that blurs pores and gives a soft-focus finish.
Category
Skin Conditioning, Tone/Texture, Oil Control
Type
Silicone
Ingredient Ratings
Overall Rating
Good
Comedogenic Risk
None
Skin Benefits
Blurs the look of pores and fine lines while helping control surface shine for a smoother-looking complexion. Provides a cushioned, silky feel that makes makeup sit more evenly on the skin.
Uses In Skincare & Cosmetics
Often included in makeup primers, oil-control gels, and lightweight foundations to deliver a smooth application and a quick, non-tacky dry-down.
Comedogenic Rating
This ingredient has a comedogenic rating of 0. It is considered non-comedogenic and has little to no likelihood of clogging pores.
Safety
Generally low irritation potential and considered inert on skin. Those very prone to congestion may prefer patch testing in rich, silicone‑forward formulas. No notable regulatory restrictions known.
Is Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer a Good Ingredient?
It reliably improves texture, blurring, and stability with low irritation, but offers no direct skin‑active benefits. A small subset may experience buildup or pilling in heavy silicone systems. That mix of usefulness and tolerability lands it a Good rating rather than Great.