Simethicone is a mixture of dimethicone (also known as polydimethylsiloxane) and silica gel. It is available as an over-the-counter (OTC) oral anti-foaming agent used to reduce bloating, discomfort, and pain caused by excess gas in the stomach or intestinal tract. Similarly, simethicone can be used in cosmetic and personal care product formulas to prevent formulas from generating foam when they are shaken. It minimizes the surface tension of bubbles that are formed by agitation of the container. Ultimately, this results in the formation of fewer and larger bubbles instead of a foamy layer of many densely packed smaller bubbles. Simethicone can be found in bath, body, hair, and skin care products.