Abstract: A method of treating human skin to enhance the ability of skin in the absorption and retention of moisture in order to retard skin moisture loss. There is applied to skin an organosilicon compound exhibiting humectant-like characteristics which is a carboxylic acid salt functional polysiloxane. An alternate method treats human skin to reduce the transepidermal water loss of skin in order to enhance skin softness. There is applied to skin an occlusive film forming organosilicon compound which is a carboxyfunctional polysiloxane or its metal carboxylate salt.

Abstract: A method of enhancing the durability of an emollient material on a substrate by forming a mixture of an emollient material and an effective amount of an organosilicon compound, and applying the mixture to the substrate to be treated. The organosilicon compound is either an aminofunctional, amidofunctional, or carboxyfunctional, polysiloxane. A skin conditioning composition of enhanced durability is also disclosed which is a mixture of an emollient material and an effective amount of an organosilicon compound which is either an aminofunctional, amidofunctional, or carboxyfunctional, polysiloxane.

Abstract: A method of treating human skin to enhance the ability of skin in the absorption and retention of moisture in order to retard skin moisture loss. There is applied to skin an organosilicon compound exhibiting humectant-like characteristics which is an anionic siliconate. An alternate method treats human skin to reduce the transepidermal water loss of skin in order to increase moisturization and to enhance skin softness. There is applied to skin an occlusive film forming organisilicon compound which is also a siliconate.

Abstract: A method of enhancing the durability of an emollient material on a substrate by forming a mixture of an emollient material and an effective amount of an organosilicon compound, and applying the mixture to the substrate to be treated. The organosilicon compound is either an aminofunctional, amidofunctional, or carboxyfunctional, polysiloxane. A skin conditioning composition of enhanced durability is also disclosed which is a mixture of an emollient material and an effective amount of an organosilicon compound which is either an aminofunctional, amidofunctional, or carboxy functional, polysiloxane.

Abstract: A method of increasing the absorbance of ultraviolet light by sunscreen active compounds which are applied to a surface to protect the surface from excessive exposure to sunlight. A mixture is formed which includes at least one sunscreen active compound and an effective amount of a phenyl functional siloxane. The mixture is applied to the surface to be protected from excessive exposure to sunlight, and the surface including the mixture of the sunscreen active compound and the phenyl functional siloxane is exposed to light in the ultraviolet spectrum. A composition having increased absorbance of ultraviolet light for applying to a surface to protect the surface from excessive exposure to sunlight is also disclosed.