SCCS Opinion Summary May 6, 2026 3 min read

Polysilicone-15: What the SCCS Concluded About Safety in Cosmetics

Polysilicone-15 safety summary from SCCS/1346/10: SCCS conclusion, NOAEL, maximum concentration or conditions, and source-linked context.

Polysilicone-15 is covered by SCCS/1346/10, an SCCS-family cosmetic safety opinion dated 2010-06-22. The opinion conclusion for this opinion is direct enough for a substance-specific summary: Polysilicone-15 (Dimethicodiethylbenzalmalonate) is safe for use in cosmetic products as a UV light absorber at a maximum concentration of 10% (dermal application, as concluded by SCCNFP in 1999). Use of Polysilicone-15 at a concentration of 0.1% in pressurized hairsprays does not constitute a risk for the consumer.

Core Opinion Facts

NOAEL Values Cited in the Opinion

The no-observed-adverse-effect data below is shown only from the SCCS source fields for this opinion. It is not a calculated margin-of-safety output.

EndpointValueUnitStudy context
NOAEL1000mg/kg bw/dayrat, sub-chronic oral (gavage), 90 days

Maximum Concentration or Conditions

Conditions from the Opinion

In 1999, the SCCNFP concluded that Polysilicone-15 (Dimethicodiethylbenzalmalonate) is safe for use in cosmetic products as a UV light absorber at a maximum concentration of 10%. In this case only exposure following dermal application was assessed.

How to Read This Safety Conclusion

The key point for formulators is the match between the named ingredient, the cited NOAEL, and the SCCS conclusion. A NOAEL is a study point of departure, not a standalone permission to use Polysilicone-15 at any level. The SCCS conclusion and any concentration or product-type conditions remain the controlling context for cosmetic use.

The source also matters because SCCS opinions can be ingredient-specific. The internal ingredient page for Polysilicone-15 should be treated as the substance hub, while SCCS/1346/10 is the opinion-level page for the committee record.

Practical Formulation Takeaway

For a formula review, start with the identity check: confirm the INCI name, CAS number, and opinion reference align with the material in the formula. Then compare the intended product type against the SCCS concentration or condition language above. If the formulation uses a different exposure route, product category, or concentration basis, the SCCS conclusion should not be stretched beyond what SCCS/1346/10 actually assessed.

Review Notes

The conservative reading is to keep Polysilicone-15 tied to this exact opinion. The opinion number, date, NOAEL table, and condition language all travel together. If a later formula review uses a different CAS identity, product type, or concentration basis, the source should be checked again rather than reusing this summary as a blanket answer.

This page is therefore an indexable safety summary, not a replacement for the committee text. It gives search readers the core SCCS facts for Polysilicone-15 and keeps the source handle visible for audit.

Source