IOTA have often said: “If a personal care product is compared to a gourmet meal, silicone additives will be the spice, not the meat or potatoes.” This means that small amounts of silicone polymer added to great formulas will bring out desired properties to a consumer, that will amaze and delight. This approach will allow the formulator to make SMALL but MAJOR modifications to formulators in a very efficient way by modifying well known formulations to provide new products with different aesthetics. 

Additions of a properly chosen organofunctional silicones can be made to (1) the oil phase (alkyl silicones), (2) water phase (PEG/PPG dimethicone) or (2) the silicone phase (dimethicone), there are many possibilities. The reason for the addition needs to be evaluated. Adding a silicone to the oil phase can result in improved wetting and spreadability, which in turn alters cushion and play time. The surface tension reduction can be reduced from 32 dynes/cm to 25 dynes/cm. This dramatic change will alter cushion, playtime and ultimate aesthetics.  Addition of a silicone that is soluble in the aqueous phase will reduce the surface tension of the water phase and alter aesthetics. Finally, addition of a silicone soluble material other than dimethicone can provide water resistance, barrier properties and alter the skin-feel providing a dry powdery feel.  All in all, there are many possibilities.