What is phenyl trimethicone and what is it used for?
Phenyl trimethicone (CAS 2116-84-9) is a phenyl-functional silicone fluid used as an emollient and conditioning agent. In personal care it provides skin and hair conditioning and gloss, and also acts as an antifoam, antistatic and viscosity-control additive.
PHENYL TRIMETHICONE- ▸ Emollient: skin- and hair-conditioning silicone for cosmetics
- ▸ Antifoaming: antifoam additive in formulations
- ▸ Antistatic: antistatic agent in hair-care products
- ▸ Viscosity control: viscosity modifier in cosmetic systems
- ▸ Safety Data Sheet (SDS) PDF · SDS
- ▸ Technical Data Sheet (TDS) PDF · TDS
- ▸ Typical Certificate of Analysis (CoA) PDF · COA
Values shown are typical for the current commercial grade. A lot-specific Certificate of Analysis accompanies every shipment; the grade-specific SDS is available on request.
A grade-specific Safety Data Sheet (SDS) — with the complete hazard classification, handling precautions, and transport information — is supplied with every shipment and available on request. Confirm all safety and regulatory details against the SDS for your specific grade.
Request SDS →Phenyl trimethicone (CAS 2116-84-9) is a phenyl-modified silicone fluid used as an emollient and gloss agent in cosmetics and personal care. Its phenyl groups raise the refractive index (~1.46-1.50) well above standard dimethicone (~1.40), which is why formulators choose it to deliver shine, a smooth dry feel, and water-resistant film in hair, skin, and color products. RawSource supplies it in bulk to formulators and purchasing teams on an RFQ basis.
Typical Properties
Typical reference values, not a specification; the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the lot governs.
| Property | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| INCI Name | Phenyl Trimethicone |
| CAS Number | 2116-84-9 |
| Molecular Formula | C15H32O3Si4 |
| Appearance | Clear, colorless fluid |
| Viscosity (25 °C) | Typically ~20–30 cSt |
| Refractive index (25 °C) | ~1.46 (high — for gloss/shine) |
| Specific gravity (25 °C) | ~0.98 |
| Solubility | Insoluble in water; soluble in many organics and silicones |
| Flammability / handling | Refer to the current SDS |
Regulatory & registration requirements
- TSCA (US):
- REACH (EU):
- EC number: 218-320-6
Source: EPA TSCA Inventory (July 2025 release) · ECHA CHEM — retrieved 2026-07-12
What is phenyl trimethicone?
Phenyl trimethicone is a low-viscosity, phenyl-substituted polysiloxane supplied as a clear, mobile fluid. Replacing some of the methyl groups on the siloxane backbone with phenyl groups gives it a notably higher refractive index than methyl silicones such as dimethicone. That higher RI is the mechanism behind its primary value: it bends and reflects light at the film surface, producing visible gloss and depth of shine. It is oil-soluble (not water-soluble), compatible with a broad range of organic emollients and esters, and miscible with ethanol up to roughly 95%, making it an easy drop-in for the oil phase of most personal-care systems. INCI: Phenyl Trimethicone. Synonym: phenyltris(trimethylsiloxy)silane. EINECS 218-320-6.
Applications by sector
Phenyl trimethicone is selected over methyl silicones whenever a formulation needs optical gloss plus a non-greasy, water-resistant feel. Common bulk uses by sector include:
Hair care
Used in shine and gloss serums, anti-frizz sprays, leave-ins, and styling products. The high refractive index delivers visible sheen, while the low surface tension gives even spread and slip for detangling and a smooth surface feel. The hydrophobic film also supports frizz control and helps shield the hair surface in humid conditions.
Skin care
Valued for a silky, non-greasy, dry-touch slip and a subtle glossy finish in moisturizers, primers, and body products. Because the film is hydrophobic, it is widely used in sun care to support water-resistance claims and to improve the spread and feel of the oil phase. It reduces tackiness without the heavy occlusion of some emollients.
Color cosmetics
Used in lip products, foundations, and makeup where the high RI builds gloss and depth of color, aids pigment wetting and dispersion, and contributes to a smooth, polished, longer-wearing finish. The dry, anti-tack feel makes it a common gloss vehicle without the stickiness of many ester oils.
Phenyl trimethicone vs dimethicone
The two are often compared because both are silicone fluids, but they are chosen for different effects. The phenyl groups are what set phenyl trimethicone apart:
In short: reach for phenyl trimethicone when the brief calls for shine and a polished optical finish; dimethicone remains the workhorse for general slip and conditioning where high gloss is not required.
Forms and grade
Phenyl trimethicone is supplied as a clear, low-viscosity silicone fluid (HS code 3910.00). Viscosity grade and exact specification vary by source; request the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the specific grade offered so you can confirm viscosity, refractive index, and appearance against your formulation requirements before committing to a bulk order.
Handling and documentation
Handle as a cosmetic-grade silicone fluid in line with the Safety Data Sheet (SDS), which governs storage, handling, and personal protective equipment for the grade supplied. We provide the CoA and SDS with every quote. RawSource does not make medical, therapeutic, or efficacy claims; performance in a finished product depends on your formulation and should be validated under your own protocols.
Bulk supply and RFQ
RawSource sources phenyl trimethicone in bulk for cosmetic and personal-care manufacturers — drums, totes, and container loads. Pricing depends on grade, viscosity, volume, and packaging, so we quote against your actual requirement rather than a list price. Submit an RFQ with your target quantity and grade, and we will return current pricing along with the CoA and SDS.
Reviewed and updated July 2026 by the RawSource technical team.
Phenyl trimethicone is a phenyl-substituted silicone fluid (CAS 2116-84-9, INCI Phenyl Trimethicone) used in hair, skin and color cosmetics for gloss, dry-touch emolliency and water-resistant film formation.
Key figures for buyers
- 705 cosmetic formulations reported phenyl trimethicone in 2023 FDA Voluntary Cosmetic Registration Program data, 659 of them leave-on products, the highest count in its ingredient group (CIR final report, 2023).
- Maximum reported use levels: 59.5% in non-coloring shampoos and 24.8% in leave-on formulations, per the Personal Care Products Council concentration-of-use survey of 2021 (CIR, 2023).
- Safety status: the Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety concluded it safe in cosmetics at present practices of use and concentration in its 2023 group report, reaffirming findings first published in 1986 and again in 2006; the panel’s one exception is that data were insufficient for products that may be incidentally inhaled (CIR, 2023).
- EU demand driver: cyclic siloxanes D4, D5 and D6 may not be placed on the market as substances or in mixtures at 0.1% or more by weight since 6 June 2026, and leave-on cosmetics follow on 6 June 2027, under REACH Annex XVII entry 70 (Regulation (EU) 2024/1328); linear phenyl silicones sit outside the restriction.
- Related high-RI grade: diphenylsiloxy phenyl trimethicone runs 15 mm²/s viscosity, 1.498 refractive index and 0.995 specific gravity, with supplier-recommended use levels of 0.1 to 30% (Shin-Etsu KF-56A TDS, 2012).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is phenyl trimethicone a silicone?
Yes. Phenyl trimethicone (CAS 2116-84-9) is a phenyl-substituted polysiloxane, i.e. a silicone fluid, supplied as a clear liquid. It is used in cosmetic formulations as an emollient, antifoaming and antistatic agent, and as a viscosity modifier.
Phenyl trimethicone vs dimethicone — what is the difference?
Phenyl trimethicone has a higher refractive index (~1.46-1.50 vs ~1.40 for dimethicone), so it delivers much more gloss and shine. Both are silicone fluids, but phenyl trimethicone carries phenyl groups on the siloxane backbone, giving it a drier, less greasy finish and making it the preferred choice for shine; dimethicone is favored for general slip and conditioning.
Is phenyl trimethicone good for hair?
Phenyl trimethicone is widely used in hair gloss and shine serums because its high refractive index produces visible sheen. It also spreads easily for slip and detangling and forms a hydrophobic film that supports frizz control. As with any cosmetic ingredient, suitability for a finished product is determined by your formulation and testing.
Is phenyl trimethicone water soluble?
No. Phenyl trimethicone is not water-soluble; it is an oil-phase silicone fluid. It is compatible with a broad range of organic emollients and esters and is miscible with ethanol up to roughly 95%, which makes it easy to incorporate into the oil phase of cosmetic systems.
Why does phenyl trimethicone add gloss?
The phenyl groups on its siloxane backbone raise its refractive index (~1.46-1.50), so the film reflects more light at the surface and reads as gloss and shine. This optical effect, combined with even spread and a dry, non-greasy feel, is why it is used in hair serums, lip products, and color cosmetics.
What is the cost of bulk phenyl trimethicone?
Pricing depends on grade, viscosity, volume, and packaging. Request a bulk quote with your required quantity rather than relying on a list price, and we will return current pricing along with the CoA and SDS.
Is phenyl trimethicone harmful?
Published safety reviews support its use. The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety concluded in its 2023 group report that phenyl trimethicone is safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration, reaffirming findings first published in 1986. The report notes it is not restricted under EU cosmetic rules, and FDA permits it as an indirect food additive under 21 CFR 175.105 and 175.300. The panel’s one caveat: data were insufficient to assess products that may be incidentally inhaled.
Why is cyclomethicone banned?
Cyclomethicone is restricted in the EU, not banned outright. REACH Annex XVII entry 70 limits the cyclic siloxanes D4, D5 and D6 to below 0.1% by weight: wash-off cosmetics (D4 and D5) since 31 January 2020, substances and mixtures since 6 June 2026, and leave-on cosmetics from 6 June 2027 under Regulation (EU) 2024/1328. Linear phenyl silicones such as phenyl trimethicone fall outside the restriction, so formulators replacing cyclics evaluate it as a gloss and carrier alternative.
What is diphenylsiloxy phenyl trimethicone?
Diphenylsiloxy phenyl trimethicone is a separate INCI ingredient: a linear phenyl-substituted siloxane polymer carrying additional diphenylsiloxy units, supplied by Shin-Etsu as KF-56A. Extra phenyl content lifts the refractive index to 1.498, with 15 mm²/s viscosity and supplier-recommended use levels of 0.1 to 30% per the Shin-Etsu TDS. FDA VCRP data for 2023 report it in 275 formulations, and it carries the same 2023 CIR safety conclusion as phenyl trimethicone.
What is the trade name for phenyl trimethicone?
Dow sells it as DOWSIL 556 Cosmetic Grade Fluid, the product formerly branded Dow Corning 556. PubChem also lists Silicone DC 556 and Gransil PM-56 as synonyms for CAS 2116-84-9. Several manufacturers supply grades against the same INCI name, so RawSource quotes it as phenyl trimethicone rather than under a brand. When qualifying a new source, verify viscosity, refractive index and appearance on the lot Certificate of Analysis instead of relying on the trade name.
What is the REACH and TSCA regulatory status of Phenyl Trimethicone?
Phenyl Trimethicone (CAS 2116-84-9) is subject to U.S. TSCA Inventory requirements; supplying it into the EU requires valid REACH registration ((EC) No 1907/2006). RawSource cannot verify a third-party supplier's registrations — buyers should require documented TSCA and REACH compliance for their jurisdiction and volume (EC 218-320-6).