Silicone polymers have become increasingly important as ingredients in skin care products, and the trend has accelerated over the last decade. While silicone compounds have existed since the 1860s, their increasing popularity in recent years is due in large part to a better understanding of their unique functions. This increased understanding of the properties of silicone, coupled with an increased ability of the silicone chemist to modify compounds, has resulted in more effective utilization of these materials in skin care formulations. Silicone polymers bring to formulations a phase that is soluble neither in oil nor in water. They are third-phase ingredients that when properly chosen can provide to formulations properties including surface-tension reduction, wetting, and emulsification.