For this comparison, it is a topical scar gel whose disclosed formula is primarily or exclusively silicone and does not list additional skincare ingredients such as squalane or a vitamin C derivative. It is a type of gel, not one product, and silicone-only gels differ in their silicones and instructions.
Comparison
Scarless vs a silicone-only gel
Scarless is a topical silicone scar gel from Goodness Care. For this comparison, a "silicone-only gel" means a topical scar gel whose disclosed formula is primarily or exclusively silicone and does not list additional skincare ingredients such as squalane or a vitamin C derivative. It describes a type of gel, not a named product, and silicone-only gels differ from one another. This page sets out what the two share, what Scarless adds, and what the evidence can and cannot show; it does not compare results.
Reviewed by Raed Salah, Pharmacist and Technical DirectorLast reviewed September 2026
The 30-second comparison
- Both rely on silicone as the core scar-management technology.
- Scarless also lists squalane and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, a vitamin C derivative; a silicone-only gel, by definition, does not.
- A simpler formula is not a shortcoming.
- A longer ingredient list does not show better scar results.
- No study has compared Scarless with silicone-only gels, so neither can be said to work better.
Quick comparison
| Scarless | Silicone-only gel | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| What it is | Silicone gel with squalane and a vitamin C derivative | A scar gel whose disclosed formula is silicone, with no added skincare ingredients such as squalane or a vitamin C derivative |
| Formula | ||
| Silicone-based | Yes | Yes, by definition |
| Silicones listed | Dimethicone, dimethiconol, cyclopentasiloxane, cetyl dimethicone | Varies by product |
| Squalane | Listed: an olive-derived emollient | Not listed, by definition |
| Vitamin C derivative | Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate | Not listed, by definition |
| Other listed ingredients | Silica and isopropyl myristate | Varies by product |
| Application | ||
| How often | Twice a day, morning and evening | Varies by product |
| How long | Two to three months; established scars take longer | Varies by product |
| Practical use | ||
| Drying time | A few minutes | Varies by product |
| Make-up over it | Yes, once dry | Varies by product |
| Sunscreen over it | Yes, over the dried gel | Varies by product |
| Intended use | ||
| Open wounds | No. Closed, fully healed skin only | Check each product's instructions |
| Scar types named by the manufacturer | Surgical, C-section, burn, hypertrophic and keloid-type scars | Varies by product |
| Evidence | ||
| Studies on the product itself | No published study on the finished product identified | Varies by product |
| Direct comparison studies | None identified | None identified |
The differences that matter most
The core is the same: silicone. Both approaches rely on silicone, the technology that scar-management guidance recommends for this kind of gel. On that core, Scarless and a silicone-only gel are alike.
Formula complexity. Scarless adds squalane, an olive-derived emollient, and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, a vitamin C derivative, to its silicones, and also lists silica and isopropyl myristate. A silicone-only gel keeps to silicone. The extra ingredients are a difference in formula, not evidence of better results.
Routine and formula vary by product. Silicone-only gels are not one product: they use different silicones and come with their own instructions on how often to apply them, drying and what can go over them. Scarless is applied twice a day, morning and evening, dries in a few minutes, and can then be covered with make-up or sunscreen. Compare it with the instructions for the specific gel you are considering.
Formula compared
Definition used here. For this comparison, a "silicone-only gel" means a topical scar gel whose disclosed formula is primarily or exclusively silicone and does not list additional skincare ingredients such as squalane or a vitamin C derivative.
What they share. Silicone is the scar-management technology in both. Scarless's silicones are dimethicone, dimethiconol, cyclopentasiloxane and cetyl dimethicone; silicone-only gels use their own silicones, which differ by product.
What Scarless adds. Squalane, an olive-derived emollient, and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, a stable vitamin C derivative. Its full ingredient list has seven INCI entries, which also include silica and isopropyl myristate.
A silicone-only gel. By definition, its disclosed formula keeps to silicone, without added skincare ingredients such as squalane or a vitamin C derivative.
What the extra ingredients do and do not show. Extra ingredients do not establish better scar results, and a simple formula is not a weakness. Research on squalane or on vitamin C derivatives looks at the ingredients themselves; it does not show that Scarless works better than a silicone-only gel.
Application and daily routine
- Scarless. A thin layer, rubbed in gently until it dries in a few minutes, twice a day, morning and evening, for two to three months, and longer for established scars. See how to apply Scarless.
- A silicone-only gel. How often, for how long, how quickly it dries and whether make-up or sunscreen can go over it all depend on the product. Its own instructions apply.
Scar types, stages and intended use
- Healed, closed skin. Scarless is applied once the wound has fully closed and sutures are removed, never on open wounds. For a silicone-only gel, follow that product's own instructions on when to start.
- Scar types. Scarless names surgical, C-section, burn, hypertrophic and keloid-type scars. The scar types a silicone-only gel names vary by product.
Practical-use considerations
- What varies from gel to gel. Drying time, feel on the skin, tolerance, price and compatibility with make-up or sunscreen are product properties, not category properties. They should not be assumed for silicone-only gels as a group, in either direction.
- Sun protection. Scarless has no built-in SPF, and sunscreen can be applied over it once it has dried.
What the evidence can and cannot tell us
Silicone as a class. Silicone gels and sheets are widely recommended in scar-management guidance, particularly for hypertrophic scars and keloids. However, systematic reviews have found that the certainty of evidence for some outcomes is low or very low.
Silicone gel as a format. Systematic reviews of silicone gels report improvements in scar measures in many trials, with important limits: small trials, a high risk of bias and short follow-up. One review notes that many gels contain additional components that may contribute to the effects seen. This evidence supports silicone, the technology both share; it does not favour one branded gel over another.
Gel and sheet. A meta-analysis of six randomised trials found silicone gel and silicone sheets comparably effective, and a small trial in 30 people found no difference between them. Neither speaks to the ingredients a gel adds to its silicone.
The ingredients Scarless adds. Research on squalane and on vitamin C derivatives looks at the ingredients themselves, not at Scarless as a finished product, and does not show what they add to a silicone gel's effect on scars.
Scarless itself. The published research that Goodness Care cites is on silicone, on the individual ingredients and on related formulations, not on Scarless as a finished product.
A direct comparison. No published study has compared Scarless with a silicone-only gel.
Scarless may help improve the appearance of scars. More on the research, and its limits, is on the published research page.
Which may suit different priorities?
Each approach has features that may matter to different people:
- A silicone-only gel may suit someone who prefers a simpler disclosed formula, wants silicone as the only disclosed scar-care ingredient, has been advised by a doctor or pharmacist to avoid a particular ingredient, or prefers a specific brand's routine or texture.
- Scarless may suit someone who wants silicone together with squalane and a vitamin C derivative in one gel, applied twice a day, morning and evening, that dries in a few minutes and can then take make-up or sunscreen.
- If you are not sure which suits your scar, a pharmacist or doctor can advise.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Scarless is a topical silicone scar gel. Its base is several silicones, and it also lists other ingredients, so it is not a silicone-only gel as defined on this page.
Yes. Alongside its silicones, Scarless lists squalane, an olive-derived emollient, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, a stable vitamin C derivative, silica and isopropyl myristate.
No. Research on squalane and on vitamin C derivatives looks at the ingredients themselves, not at a finished silicone gel, and no study has shown that adding them to silicone improves scar results.
No. A simpler formula is not a weakness, and a longer ingredient list does not show better results.
Silicone gels and sheets are widely recommended in scar-management guidance, particularly for hypertrophic scars and keloids. However, systematic reviews have found that the certainty of evidence for some outcomes is low or very low. How a particular gel performs depends on the product.
It varies by product. Scarless dries in a few minutes; for a silicone-only gel, check that product's own instructions.
Scarless must not be applied to open wounds or unhealed incisions, or before sutures are removed. For a silicone-only gel, follow that product's own instructions.
No. No published study has compared Scarless with a silicone-only gel, so neither can be said to work better. The difference that can be stated is in the formula: Scarless adds squalane and a vitamin C derivative to its silicones.
Sources
- Meaume S, Le Pillouer-Prost A, Richert B et al. Management of scars: updated practical guidelines and use of silicones. Eur J Dermatol 2014;24(4):435–443. PMID 25141160.
- Monstrey S, Middelkoop E, Vranckx JJ et al. Updated scar management practical guidelines: non-invasive and invasive measures. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2014;67(8):1017–1025. PMID 24888226.
- Jiang Q, Chen J, Tian F et al. Silicone gel sheeting for treating hypertrophic scars. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2021;9(9):CD013357. PMID 34564840.
- Kim SK, Karadeniz F. Biological importance and applications of squalene and squalane. Adv Food Nutr Res 2012;65:223–233. PMID 22361190.
This is a topical gel for external use on intact, fully healed skin. Do not apply it to open wounds, unhealed incisions, or infected or irritated skin. It does not replace medical advice: ask a doctor or pharmacist about a scar that is painful, growing, restricting movement, or not improving.
Where to next
A few ways forward
See how to apply Scarless, where to find it, or ask us a question.
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Available at pharmacies across our markets — or order online.
Order onlineHow to use it
How to apply Scarless to a fully healed scar, and for how long.
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