The Silicone Revolution: How an Unsuitable Material Became the Number One in Skincare?

Not so long ago, media and influencers used to warn us about silicones and their usage in skincare. Although these synthetic substances have their justification in cosmetics (they soften and smooth, spread well, protect the skin from external influences), the minuses in their case outweigh the pluses. However, if we look at silicone from a different point of view, we will find that it can help us a lot. Get ready, the silicone revolution is coming! 

Silicones are synthetically produced substances that have been used in cosmetics for more than seventy years. Their core is made up of oxygen and silicon, and you can find them in almost every cosmetic product you can think of – shampoos and conditioners, foundations for make-up, moisturizing creams, but also in products for children. What do they do to the skin and hair, what side effects do they have and why should we give this material a chance? Read on to learn more.

Silicones as unwanted ingredients

When silicones began to be added to cosmetic products, the results were immediately apparent. Their main effect is the ability to smooth the surface, so the skin was soft to the touch, and hair became soft and smooth. Unfortunately, the disadvantage of silicones is that they cover the skin with an invisible film that does not let anything in or out. This is an advantage on the one hand (it protects them from external influences), but on the other hand a disadvantage – it locks everything that doesn't belong in them, including dirt and excess oil. 

Furthermore, silicones are often not fully soluble in water, so you can't wash them off your face and hair with ordinary water, you need special cosmetic products with a lot of foam. For that, you pay extra cost since they tend to be quite drying (tip: you can omit this problem thanks to the FOREO LUNA™ 4 device, which is extremely gentle on the skin, yet effective).

In addition, cosmetic silicones can also contain other substances, for example, the infamous chemical PEG, which is linked to the toxic impurity 1,4-dioxane. As you can see, in conditioners, make-up, and skin creams, the advantage of the presence of silicones is debatable. However, this is not the only way we can use them for our beauty rituals.

How did an unwanted substance become the queen of skincare?

It seemed that the story of silicones in the cosmetic world would have a sad ending, but in recent years the tide has started to turn. We took their use by the wrong end - instead of injecting them into the body through the skin barrier in the form of creams and bases, we should have used them externally. Silicone as a material is highly antibacterial, its surface does not react with the human body and does not excrete any chemical substances. It is therefore extremely safe in contact with the skin. 

As silicone can resist bacteria that simply won't stick to it, it has proven to be a great material for cleansing sonic facial brushes. It is also very adaptable, the bristles from this material could be so fine that even very sensitive skin is able to tolerate them. The benefits of this material were first realized by FOREO, we started to produce all of our sonic devices from ultra-hygienic silicone. Products are designed for cleansing - either for the skincare with LUNA™ range or oral care with ISSA™ toothbrushes. Cheers to silicone, bacteria have no chance at all and you will be able to enjoy glowy skin and a radiant smile!

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