meriellyn

Oh my goodness, what a disaster!
I have been totally sulfate free for a couple years now and 99% 'cone free (with the exception of the very rare use of a water-soluble one, way down on the ingredients list). Last weekend I was dogsitting at the BF's cousin's place out of town. It was only supposed to be one night so I didn't pack any hairs stuff. I figured I'd just throw it up the next day and wash when I got home. We ended up staying a second night and my hair was getting a bit icky by then. Against my better judgement, I decided it wouldn't hurt too much to use her Sunsilk stuff just that once. Holy crap, I have learned my lesson. I know that cyclopentasiloxane (the second ingredient in every stinking drugstore product now) hates my skin and vise-versa. I expected a break out or two on my back, maybe. Nope. My whole face and scalp exploded into painful horribleness! So on top of crappy looking hair, I have been dealing with horrid skin and bumpy scalp all week. *sigh*
Hair is better. Had to use the only sulfate poo I keep around to get that crap out. (The hypoallergenic stuff from Sally's.) After that, an ACV rinse, protein treatment and a good conditioning (spaced out over the week) my hair is finally ok. I'm still nursing the last of the wounds though. At least they don't hurt anymore.

I don't really have a problem with dimethicone (particularly the PEG-modified ones) and amodimethicone can be tolerable once in a great while as long as I keep it off my skin but this cyclopentasiloxane crap is the devil! I used to use a lot of silicone products when I straightened my hair. Did so for many years. Never had much problem before this stuff because all the rage.

I figure the stuff must be cheaper or something because it doesn't work as well as other silicones yet it's in 98% of the drugstore hair *and* skin products. :P

Anyway, I just had to vent. I was so shocked at how much effect one use had! Lesson learned, I guess!

Does anyone know anything about how the -xane silicones differ from the -cone ones? I've noticed a couple more -xane ones popping up in various products lately. Not a good trend if you ask me.

CelticCurls

Hmmmm. That's quite a reaction. I'm OK with it in skin products; it helps retain moisture in dry skin. But I found it is very difficult to get out of hair, seems to bond like glue.It does great things for straighties though; my BF uses it and his hair is like silk. But he loves sulfate poo. It made mine go 1/2 straight & limp -- not easy to do to a 3B.

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3B, bra-strap length
laidback, very-modified CGer
HG: GF Sleek 'n Shine Leave-in; Alagio

Snarls

Are you sure that it's the c cone that your skin is reacting to? I'm just curious, because my skin reacts in a similar way to "chemical" sun filter ingredients which are showing up in more and more hair products, even shampoo. I haven't heard of the different silicones being radically different, other than some being altered to be more water-soluble, and some are more water-repellant.

If it is the cone that's causing the breakout, then it's good that you know that and can avoid it!

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formerly Castella
(my dogs aren't snarly, my hair is)

meriellyn

I'm pretty sure it's that particular silicone. My underarms hate it in deoderant as well. I've also found that it's in most foundations and many facial moisturizers now. :P It's getting harder and harder to avoid. That's especially crappy when you're on a drugstore budget.
I don't get why it's the new 'cone of choice. It makes my hair look like plastic, hang weird and almost feel crunchy. Other silicones seem to impart more shine and while they may weight my hair down a good bit, it'll still more like hair, just straighter hair.
Also, most regular 'cone containing conditioners have the dimethicone/simethicone/amodimethicone/etc a few ingredients down in the list. With the cyclopentasiloxane, it's almost always the second ingredient. I find it somewhat alarming that instead of just silicone-containing, most conditioners are now completely silicone based. Fine in a silicone serum, but weird for it to be almost all drugstore conditioners (besides the Suave Naturals and some VO5 stuff). *shrug* I guess I went CG just in time since this seem to happen right about the same time I did (2.5-3yrs ago).

wild_sasparilla

Same here - I used the CoverGirl Aquasmooth foundation to wear to a dance and got huuuuge over- and under-the-skin zits afterward! I know it was the cyclopentasiloxane that did it.

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curlyjenn

I hate that cyclo - xane, too! My hair generally likes silicones, but my scalp doesn't like that one. It makes me itch horribly. I'd forgotten and tried one of the products in my product graveyard, and now my head is so itchy it's driving me crazy. And now that I think about it, I've gotten a few pimples on my back. I never get pimples on my back!

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I'm a 3b, with 3c underneath.

Used to be CG, now I'm not. Using Suave Aloe & Waterlily shampoo & condish, JoiWhip, BRHG, Suave Aloe gel, Aussie Tizz No Frizz, and anything else that looks good!
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meriellyn

Oooh yes, the back bumpies and cystic-type zits. *shudder* Luckily I came across some neat organic vitamin C serum and moisturizer on closeout at CVS a couple days ago. It's helping to smooth out the aftermath of the cycloeviloxane. I've also managed to sooth *most* of the scalp outbreaks. Now if I could just stop poking at them, I'd be ok. ;P
I just found out Aussie took that crap out of their conditioners! I'm pretty excited about that! I used to love some of the Aussie stuff but had to ditch it when the bumpie-maker-formula moved in.