SiClone® SR-5

SiClone® SR-5 is a a volatile cyclomethicone/cyclopentasiloxane alternative from Presperse, and is comprised of a blend of hydrocarbons. It’s not natural, but it is silicone free and performs much more like cyclomethicone/cyclopentasiloxane than any natural alternative I’ve tried.

According to Presperse, it is 55.5% isohexadecane, 35.5% isododecane, and 9.5% C13-15 Alkane.

Isohexadecane (and) Isododecane (and) C13-15 Alkane

Clear, thin fluid

The manufacturer just says “more than 1%”

Light, slippy, silky

Nothing noticeable

Ultra fast

Liquid at room temperature (freezing point of -67.5ºC/-90°F)

Mineral oil, cyclomethicone, isopropyl myristate (IPM), dimethicone. Can mix with more polar oils (plant oils) depending on ratios.

SiClone® SR-5 is a great silicone-free alternative to cyclomethicone/cyclopentasiloxane. It’s also a great solvent for cosmetic film formers like Trimethylsiloxysilicate (and) Polypropylsilsesquioxane (Flake Resin).

No, but if you like making ultra-light haircare products and colour cosmetics I think it’s a good ingredient to consider.

SiClone® SR-5 only exists as a refined ingredient.

Excellent silicone-free alternative to volatile silicones

Not widely available

Cyclomethicone + other cyclo-siloxanes would be an easy option. You could also try creating your own blend of the component ingredients; I haven’t found isohexadecane for sale yet, but TKB Trading sells isododecane and C13-15 Alkane (Neossance® Hemisqualane) is fairly widely available.

Include it in the oil phase if cold processing, or the cool down phase if hot processing.

Stored somewhere cool, dark, and dry, SiClone® SR-5 should last at least 2 years.

Try replacing ~10–20% of the water in my micellar water formulation for a bi-phase micellar water that does an excellent job of removing long-wearing eye makeup.

100mL (3.3fl oz)

 Buy it from an online DIY ingredient supplier; the only place I know of that sells it at the moment is YellowBee.