A phosphate ester of a PEG-modified silicone, listed as a surfactant and conditioning ingredient.
What it is
Dimethicone PEG-8 phosphate is, according to CosIng, a partial ester of phosphoric acid and a dimethicone that carries polyethylene glycol chains with an average of 8 ethylene oxide units. CosIng lists it as an emollient, a hair- and skin-conditioning ingredient, and a cleansing and foam-boosting surfactant.
Where it is used
Appears on the ingredient lists of a small number of products.
Limits of interpretation
The INCI list shows which ingredients are present, not how much of each. Above 1%, ingredients are listed in descending order of weight; below 1% the order is free.
The number 8 is an average, and the INCI name does not show the length of the silicone chain.
Functions
- Skin conditioning – emollient
- Acting as lubricants on the skin surface providing the skin with a soft and smooth appearance.
- Surfactant – foam boosting
- Increasing foaming capacity and/or stabilize foams in general.
- Hair conditioning
- Enhancing the appearance and feel of hair. Leaving the hair easy to comb, supple, soft and shiny and/or imparting volume, lightness, gloss, texture, etc.
- Skin conditioning
- Maintaining the skin in good condition.
- Surfactant – cleansing
- Wetting body surfaces, emulsifying or solubilizing oils, and suspending soil (generally, such ingredients contribute to the foaming and lathering properties of cleansing products).
EU regulation
This ingredient is not listed in the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 in the CosIng data.