The feel is engineered

How skincare feels is one of its most powerful selling points. And one of the most engineered.

Silicones are synthetic compounds used for one main reason: feel. They create a smooth, slip-like sensation, fill in the look of texture, make a formula feel like it’s working.

Dimethicone, cyclopentasiloxane, cyclohexasiloxane. If they’re near the top of a list, you’ve got a silicone-heavy formula.

The feel is real. The rest of the story is more complicated.

Silicones sit on top of skin rather than absorbing. They form a film -- useful for temporary smoothing, less so for anything needing real interaction. For some people prone to congestion, they can trap debris against the skin.

They’re not universally harmful. Many people have no issue. But the polished, instantly-soft feel is a textural effect, not evidence the formula works.

Real plant oils feel different. Richer, less instantly silky, more variable -- because they are. They absorb instead of coating.

If a formula feels extraordinary on contact, ask what’s creating that feeling. Sometimes it’s the botanicals. Often it’s the silicones, telling you a story your skin didn’t write.