The Controversies, the Science, and the Benefits of Silicone in Skincare
In this article:
- What Is Silicone?
- The Silicone Controversy
- The Benefits of Silicone in Skincare
- Silicone Anti Wrinkle Patches
- Conclusion
If you have just come across the magic of our silicone anti-wrinkle pads recently, you might be fascinated by the idea of silicone.
Silicone in skincare is not a new concept. In fact, it has been existing in the aesthetic industry for quite some time now.
With the public’s interests in the science behind skincare soaring, more and more ingredients have been dissected and studied. Long before you start wearing silicone anti-wrinkle pads, people were wearing silicone in their breasts, their buttocks, and their lips. That’s right, liquid silicone is frequently used in cosmetic and surgical implants.
As popular as silicone appears to be, there is also an overwhelming amount of people avoiding the said ingredient like a plague.
What exactly is silicone? Does it actually benefit the skin or bring nothing but harm? We will take a thorough look at the controversies, the proven benefits, and the science-backed silicone anti-wrinkle pads that piqued everyone’s interests right now.
What Is Silicone?
Silicone is a synthetic ingredient made from a combination of natural ingredients like silicon, oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen, or other elements.
“Silicones are a group of semi-liquid substances derived from Silica,” NYC-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner told Healthline. And Silica is the main component of sand.
Originally produced as a liquid or flexible plastic for medical, electrical, and other purposes, silicone has gained wide popularity in the cosmetic world due to its highly stable nature.
In skincare, silicone is added mostly for its renowned occlusive property – the ability to produce a film that acts as a water and air-resistant barrier coating the skin.
Regardless of your standpoint on silicone for skin, you have definitely come in contact with silicone one way or another, because lots of our daily supply such as adhesives, food containers, insulation, and soaps are made of silicones.
The Silicone Controversy
While silicone being a common ingredient in implants, moisturizers, and face masks, some may argue the element is in fact skin-irritating, toxic, and highly dangerous.
While FDA considers the normal use of silicone items to be safe, it has issued warnings against using liquid silicone as injectables or fillers, for the reason that silicone in liquid form could travel around the body and cause serious reactions. However, we all know that implants aren’t durable goods, and silicones in skincare are only meant for the skin layer.
A common belief is that the occlusive nature of silicone leads to clogged pores, thus causing breakouts and skin irritations. While doctors agree to a certain extent that people who are prone to acne breakouts should be careful with silicones.
Cosmetic chemist Sophie Neild-Crabb argued that “categorizing silicones as ‘pore-clogging’ or ‘suffocating’ to the skin isn’t technically true when considering their chemical properties – their substantive nature means that they just require proper removal”.
Benefits of Silicone in Skincare
As a skincare ingredient, silicone can deeply hydrate skin, boost collagen production and blood circulation.
“Due to their unique fluid properties, silicones are used to improve the feel, appearance, and performance of topical skincare products. They also improve the delivery of other ingredients,” explains Sejal Shah, an NYC dermatologist and founder of SmarterSkin Dermatology.
“In addition, silicones themselves can benefit the skin and hair because of their conditioning properties, emollience, and ability to prevent water loss by creating a breathable barrier. They can make the skin appear smoother and more radiant due to their light-reflective properties and ability to fill in lines and pores.”
Dr. Deanne Mraz Robinson, a board-certified dermatologist is also an avid fan of silicones, for their proven medical benefits of reducing scarring and healing wounds. According to Dr. Robinson, silicone has been used to treat burns for a long time. The occlusive layer created by silicone protects the troubled skin from outside hazards while allows it to breathe.
All in all, silicones are effective in reducing signs of aging and other skin blemishes when used long-term.
You can often find silicone in rich, hydrating moisturizers designed for dry skin. The added silicone is able to produce a strong barrier to lock in the moisture and nutrients you skin need. You can also find the application of silicone in the form of silicone anti-wrinkle patches.
These patches come in multiple forms targeting different areas such as the under-eye wrinkles and crow's feet, the smile lines, the forehead or the décolleté area.
What Are Silicone Anti-Wrinkle Patches?
Unlike traditional anti-wrinkle patches that are usually saturated in antioxidant-rich serum, silicone anti-wrinkle patches contain only one ingredient, silicone.
These silicone patches are effective against signs of aging on our skin – both as a preventative tool and as a treatment. Oia’s Anti-Wrinkle patches are made of premium silicone and come in various shapes, specifically designed for the forehead, eyes, mouth, chest, and neck.
These silicone anti-wrinkle pads provide immense skin hydration and support to the skin’s ability to retain moisture. Wearing these silicone anti-wrinkle pads overnight can boost collagen production and blood circulation of the skin.
Using them long-term can strengthen under-skin muscles thus preventing future wrinkle formations. The silicone pads create a sealed bubble of oxygen and moisture when applied on the skin, which smoothes out wrinkles and allows the skin underneath to rest and recover.
The Conclusion
Being one of the most disputed yet widely used skincare ingredients, silicone has certainly been wronged more often than it’s been praised.
While there are still many rumors and false claims about silicone circulating online, any professional would tell you otherwise, but of course, there will still be rare exceptions.
As a powerful substance that effectively helps hydrating and repairing skin with no side effects, silicone is truly underrated. If you are still apprehensive about the use of silicone in your daily moisturizer, at least give silicone patches a chance.
Oia’s silicone anti-wrinkle patches are non-irritating based on feedback from our long-time users, and many have experienced reduced wrinkle appearance as well as smoother, more radiant skin after a single-use.
Try our hydrogel eye patches if you are still wary, they are packed with natural ingredients such as superfoods and antioxidants, instant afterglow guaranteed!
Stay radiant,
Oia Skin Team