Dott. Simone Gabbanini, Head of Quality Control

Silicones in Cosmetics: What They Are, What They Do, and Why BeC Has Chosen to Eliminate Them

Silicones are among the most debated ingredients in the world of cosmetics: loved for their performance and silky feel, yet often criticized for their environmental impact.
To understand why BeC has chosen to remove them entirely from its formulas, it’s important to explore what silicones are, how they work, and what effects they have on both skin and the environment. 

What Are Silicones

Silicones are polymers derived from silicon, the second most abundant chemical element in the Earth’s crust after oxygen.
In fact, we can say that much of the planet itself is composed of silicon.

Around 1907, British chemist Frederick Kipping synthesized silicone for the first time — a compound made up of a sequence of silicon and oxygen atoms, with various organic molecules attached to create chains of different lengths and structures.

Depending on their structure, silicones can exhibit very different physical and chemical properties:

• solid or liquid,

• oily or dry to the touch,

• water-repellent or water-soluble,

• volatile or high-boiling.

Thanks to this versatility, silicones are widely used across many industries — from rubber and sealants to pharmaceuticals, medical applications, and, of course, cosmetics.

What Silicones Do in Cosmetics

In cosmetics, silicones perform both technical and sensory functions that have made them key ingredients for decades.

Here’s where they are most commonly found:

In Hair Care

In shampoos, conditioners, and masks, silicones reduce static electricity and coat the hair cuticle, making hair smoother, shinier, and easier to detangle — also improving its resistance to heat styling.

In Make-Up

Silicones even out the skin’s surface and help pigments spread uniformly in foundations, lipsticks, and concealers, giving a silky, flawless finish and improving product wear.

In Skincare

In facial and body creams, they provide a soft, satin-like finish, prevent the formation of foam or the “white film” effect during application, and make emulsions lightweight, smooth, and non-greasy.

In Sunscreens

Silicones increase the persistence of UV filters on the skin, making the formulas more water-resistant and long-lasting.

Because many of these properties are difficult to achieve using natural raw materials, silicones have long been central ingredients in cosmetic formulation.

Are Silicones Bad for the Skin?

Despite their synthetic origin, silicones are safe, dermocompatible, and hypoallergenic.
Their chemical structure is inert: they do not react with the skin, block pores, or cause irritation.
They are even used in products for sensitive or atopic skin, precisely because they are so well tolerated.

However, the real issue with silicones is not skin safety — it’s the environment.

The Environmental Impact of Silicones

Silicones are poorly biodegradable and difficult to recycle.
When washed off, they can accumulate in water systems and soil, where their breakdown is extremely slow.

For this reason, many eco-certification bodies prohibit their use in natural and organic cosmetics.
As environmental awareness grows, more and more companies are reducing their use of silicones, facing new formulation challenges: creating products that remain high-performing yet environmentally responsible.

BeC's Commitment: Silicone-Free Cosmetics

For over forty years, BeC has combined scientific research and respect for nature.
Several years ago, the company made the decision to completely eliminate silicones from all its cosmetic lines, replacing them with natural, biodegradable, and skin-friendly ingredients.

Formulating without silicones means embracing a challenge — merging science, performance, and sustainability to create cosmetics that are truly in harmony with both skin and planet.

For decades, silicones have represented a milestone in cosmetic chemistry.
Today, however, real innovation lies in the ability to replace them with natural and sustainable alternatives.

BeC has embraced this challenge, investing in ethical and responsible research to develop cosmetics that are effective, safe, and environmentally friendly.