Technical Data Sheet
DOWSIL™ 2503 Cosmetic Wax
FEATURES
• Melts on contact with skin
• Compatible with many organic
ingredients
BENEFITS
• Substantive to skin
• Moisturises
• Non-acnegenic
• Non-comedogenic
INCI NAME: Stearyl Dimethicone (and) Octadecene
APPLICATIONS
• Hand and body creams and lotions, facial treatments, colour cosmetics,
suncare
TYPICAL PROPERTIES
Specification Writers: These values are not intended for use in preparing
specifications.
Property
Appearance
Specific gravity at 25°C/15.6°C
Refractive index
Softening point
Melt viscosity at 40°C
Flash point - closed cup
Cyclotetrasiloxane (D4) content
Cyclopentasiloxane (D5) content
DESCRIPTION
DOWSIL™ 2503 Cosmetic Wax is an
alkylmethylsiloxane wax which melts
on contact with skin and provides
moisturising benefits. It is a true
hybrid of hydrocarbon and siloxane
chemistry which conforms to the
structure described in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Chemical formula for
DOWSIL 2503 Cosmetic Wax.
HOW TO USE
In most formulations that contain
mineral oil or petroleum jelly
DOWSIL 2503 Cosmetic Wax can
Unit Value
White wax
0.85
1.447
°C 32
mm²/s 40
°C >100
% <0.1
% <0.1
be easily incorporated as a portion of
the oil phase of emulsion based
products. Use of DOWSIL 2503
Cosmetic Wax can be easily
incorporated as a portion of the oil
phase of emulsion based products. Use
of DOWSIL 2503 Cosmetic Wax
normally requires the use of a small
amount of a compatible oil to prevent
crystallisation of the wax upon
cooling. If crystallisation occurs, the
emulsion may develop unusually
abnormal increases in viscosity during
room temperature ageing. In worst
cases, emulsion failure can occur.
Blending 1 to 5 parts of a compatible
oil to 10 parts of DOWSIL 2503
Cosmetic Wax will normally eliminate
the problem.
Suggested use levels are normally
between 1% and 10% by weight of
personal care formulations and should
be added to the hydrophobic phase.
SKIN MOISTURISATION
PROPERTIES
DOWSIL 2503 Cosmetic Wax has
demonstrated skin moisturisation
properties when evaluated "neat"
using the in-vivo techniques of
transepidermal water loss (TEWL),
conductance and corneometer. In
tables which indicate statistical
significance, raw data has been
converted to Standard Deviation
Units (SDU). The statistical
significance graphs display the
confidence level of a positive effect
versus untreated skin. Refer to
Figures 2 to 7.
SENSORY EVALUATION
PROFILE
A sensory profile has been developed
on DOWSIL 2503 Cosmetic Wax to
aid you in your formulation effort.
Figure 8 can direct you to the
aesthetics you desire for your
formulation.
The Sensory Evaluation Programme
follows the guidelines recommended
by the ASTM Committee E18.03.01
on Sensory Evaluation.
The programme utilises a 20 member
trained panel to evaluate the skin feel
properties of raw materials as well as
formulated products using a
description analysis method that
quantifies several sensory attributes.
HANDLING
PRECAUTIONS
PRODUCT SAFETY
INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR
SAFE USE IS NOT INCLUDED IN
THIS DOCUMENT. BEFORE
HANDLING, READ PRODUCT
AND SAFETY DATA SHEETS
AND CONTAINER LABELS FOR
SAFE USE, PHYSICAL AND
HEALTH HAZARD
INFORMATION. THE SAFETY
DATA SHEET IS AVAILABLE ON
THE DOW WEBSITE AT
WWW.CONSUMER.DOW.COM,
OR FROM YOUR DOW SALES
UNRESTRICTED – May be shared with anyone
®
™Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow
DOWSIL™ 2503 Cosmetic Wax
© 2017 The Dow Chemical Company. All rights reserved.
APPLICATION ENGINEER, OR
DISTRIBUTOR, OR BY CALLING
DOW CUSTOMER SERVICE.
USABLE LIFE AND
STORAGE
When stored at or below 25°C in the
original unopened containers, this
product has a usable life of 24 months
from the date of production.
PACKAGING
INFORMATION
This product is available in 13kg pails
and 159kg drums.
Samples are available in 220g packs.
LIMITATIONS
This product is neither tested nor
represented as suitable for medical or
pharmaceutical uses.
HEALTH AND
ENVIRONMENTAL
INFORMATION
To support customers in their product
safety needs, Dow has an extensive
Product Stewardship organization and
a team of product safety and
regulatory compliance specialists
available in each area.
For further information, please see our
website, www.consumer.dow.com or
consult your local Dow representative.
2
LIMITED WARRANTY
INFORMATION – PLEASE
READ CAREFULLY
The information contained herein is
offered in good faith and is believed to
be accurate. However, because
conditions and methods of use of our
products are beyond our control, this
information should not be used in
substitution for customer’s tests to
ensure that our products are safe,
effective, and fully satisfactory for the
intended end use. Suggestions of use
shall not be taken as inducements to
infringe any patent.
Dow’s sole warranty is that our
products will meet the sales
specifications in effect at the time of
shipment.
Your exclusive remedy for breach of
such warranty is limited to refund of
purchase price or replacement of any
product shown to be other than as
warranted.
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT
PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE
LAW, DOW SPECIFICALLY
DISCLAIMS ANY OTHER
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR
MERCHANTABILITY.
DOW DISCLAIMS LIABILITY
FOR ANY INCIDENTAL OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.
www.consumer.dow.com
Form No. 22-1517-01 D
Table 1: COMPATIBILITY

1:9 1:1 9:1

Almond oil CH CH CH
Avocado oil CH CH CH
Beeswax CH CH CH
Candelilla ICH I CH
Caprylic/Capric triglyceride CH CH CH
Carnauba wax I I I
Castor oil I I I
Ethanol (200 proof) CH CH I
Isopropyl myristate CH CH CH
Jojoba oil CH CH CH
Lanolin CH CH CH
Lanolin alcohol CH CH CH
Lanolin oil CH CH CH
Mineral oil CH CH CH
Octyl methoxycinnamate CH CH CH
Oleyl alcohol CH CH I
Ozokerite CH CH CH
Petroleum jelly CH CH CH
Stearyl alcohol CH CH CH
C = Compatible, I = Incompatible, CH = Compatible at 80°C.
1:9 1g DOWSIL 2503 Cosmetic Wax to 9g other material.
1:1 5g DOWSIL 2503 Cosmetic Wax to 5g other material.
9:1 9g DOWSIL 2503 Cosmetic Wax to 1g other material.

Figure 2: TEWL – Raw data – average values Figure 4: Conductances – Raw data – average values
test at 2 hours. test at 2 hours.

Figure 3: TEWL – Statistical significances Figure 5: Conductances – Statistical significance

test at 2 hours. test at 2 hours.

UNRESTRICTED – May be shared with anyone

®
™Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow
DOWSIL™ 2503 Cosmetic Wax
© 2017 The Dow Chemical Company. All rights reserved. Form No. 22-1517-01 D
3
Figure 6: Corneometer – Raw data – average values Figure 7: Corneometer – Statistical significance
test at 2 hours. test at 2 hours.

Figure 8: Sensory evaluation profile of DOWSIL 2503 Cosmetic Wax.

Observations 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Lotion Not Baby Oil Lanolin

Stickiness sticky 0.5 Sticky

Baby Powder Water

Wetness Dry 4.9 Wet

Lanolin Baby Oil

Spreadability Hard 6.5 Easy

Lanolin Protein
Absorbency Low 2.2 High
Denture
adhesive Baby Oil
Gloss Dull 8.6 Shiny

Lanolin Baby Oil

Slipperiness Draggy 7.1 Slippery
Zinc oxide
No Untreated skin ointment Lot of
Residue residue 7.5 residue
Denture
adhesive Glass
Smoothness Rough 7.7 Smooth

Not Untreated skin Lanolin

Tackiness tacky 2.1 Very tacky

Untreated skin Baby Oil

Oiliness Not oily 2.8 Very oily

Not Untreated skin Petroleum jelly Very

Greasiness greasy 3.0 greasy

Not Untreated skin Lanolin

Waxiness waxy 2.7 Very waxy

®
Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company Form No. 22-1517-01 D