Hero Ingredients Series — Part 1:
All About Our Antimicrobial Hero Ingredient — Silver Citrate
You’ve heard of silver when it comes to your jewelry — but did you know that silver is an organic & natural antimicrobial ingredient that can be used in your skincare products? Metal in skincare isn’t anything new, in fact, you may have already started noticing “copper tripeptides” appearing more and more as a buzzword ingredient used by newer serums and moisturizers. We like to think of copper as the “affordable cousin” of silver in skincare. It boasts similar healing properties, protecting the skin from potential free radical damage — but on a smaller scale. Zinc oxide, another metal ion you might recognize, is known to protect against UVA and UVB rays and is used in countless skincare formulations nowadays. With these popular and effective metals already being utilized on a wide-spread scale in skincare formulations today, why do we think silver is so special?
Silver has been used as an anti-inflammatory agent for centuries. It was considered one of the most important antimicrobial treatments before antibiotics were introduced to the world on a widespread scale in the 1940s. ‘Colloidal silver’ was included in bandaging during WWI & WWII to encourage and promote wound healing. It was even used topically to treat infections by the ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians! Similarly, colloidal silver is utilized in skincare formulations today for purifying purposes. Known for its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties — silver has gained a reputation as a bacteria-killing skin soother. Today, cosmetic formulations including colloidal silver are used to treat acne and other reactive skin conditions. The antibacterial component in silver explains why you might see the hero ingredient used in many deodorants, soaps, or even workout wear!
You might be wondering, what’s the difference between the colloidal silver available today in various products and your hero ingredient, Silver Citrate? The answer is actually simple! The difference lies in the manufacturing process. During manufacturing, any potentially harmful ions are destroyed, leaving behind only the silver ions and the polymer — which acts as a carrier and preservative for the silver in your skincare. This means that these silver ions (compared to those in colloidal silver and nano-silver) are the LEAST likely of their kind to cause any type of negative reaction, making Silver Citrate suitable for ALL skin types! And even better — it will promote skin healing and support overall skin health in those with sensitive skins or compromised skin barriers. An all-natural antimicrobial skin purifier suitable for even the most sensitive of skins? Sounds too good to be true!
A study conducted by the SCCS (Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety)
assessed the safety of these silver ions being released from their preservative carrier for use in cosmetic products. Over 25 scientists concluded that not only is Silver Citrate safe for cosmetic use, but they confirmed that there is an overwhelmingly low possibility that you’ll experience any type of skin irritation from the silver. The SCCS found that the silver ions released into the cosmetic product were in such small amounts that the risk of any skin sensitivity developing from dermal absorption would be ‘exceedingly low.’ Essentially, the polymer ensures that you experience all of the benefits of silver, with none of the drawbacks. Here at Shielded Beauty, we think Silver Citrate might just be the bacteria-fighting skincare superhero ingredient you never knew you needed... until now! Be one of the first to try Silver Citrate and prepare to reap in the benefits of this skin-healing superstar.
Head over to our website to learn more at www.shieldedbeauty.com.
Do you have a skincare ingredient you swear by? An ingredient you previously stayed away from but now love? We’d love to hear about what works best for you Please get in touch with us over on Instagram at @shielded_safeguardyourskin & let’s chat about all things SKIN!
Sources
Cosmeticobs.com. 2021. EcoG+: a new preservative approved by the SCCS. [online]
Available at: <https://cosmeticobs.com/en/articles/ingredients-news-59/ecog-a-new-
preservative-approved-by-the-sccs-3440> [Accessed 6 March 2021].
Gloss, G., 2021. Silver skincare is here to treat your acne and sensitivity. [online] Get The
Gloss. Available at: <https://www.getthegloss.com/article/silver-skincare-is-here-to-treat-
your-acne-and-sensitivity> [Accessed 6 March 2021].
Degen, G., 2016. Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) – Final
version of the opinion on Eco G+ in cosmetic products. Regulatory Toxicology and
Pharmacology, [online] 82, p.157. Available at: <https://ec.europa.eu/health/
scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_198.pdf>.
Other Links
https://info.lululemon.com/design/fabrics-technology/silverescent
https://silver-botanicals.com/products/silver-shield-deodorant.html
https://silvermiracles.com/colloidal-silver-extra-strength-soap/
All About Our Antimicrobial Hero Ingredient — Silver Citrate
You’ve heard of silver when it comes to your jewelry — but did you know that silver is an organic & natural antimicrobial ingredient that can be used in your skincare products? Metal in skincare isn’t anything new, in fact, you may have already started noticing “copper tripeptides” appearing more and more as a buzzword ingredient used by newer serums and moisturizers. We like to think of copper as the “affordable cousin” of silver in skincare. It boasts similar healing properties, protecting the skin from potential free radical damage — but on a smaller scale. Zinc oxide, another metal ion you might recognize, is known to protect against UVA and UVB rays and is used in countless skincare formulations nowadays. With these popular and effective metals already being utilized on a wide-spread scale in skincare formulations today, why do we think silver is so special?
Silver has been used as an anti-inflammatory agent for centuries. It was considered one of the most important antimicrobial treatments before antibiotics were introduced to the world on a widespread scale in the 1940s. ‘Colloidal silver’ was included in bandaging during WWI & WWII to encourage and promote wound healing. It was even used topically to treat infections by the ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians! Similarly, colloidal silver is utilized in skincare formulations today for purifying purposes. Known for its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties — silver has gained a reputation as a bacteria-killing skin soother. Today, cosmetic formulations including colloidal silver are used to treat acne and other reactive skin conditions. The antibacterial component in silver explains why you might see the hero ingredient used in many deodorants, soaps, or even workout wear!
You might be wondering, what’s the difference between the colloidal silver available today in various products and your hero ingredient, Silver Citrate? The answer is actually simple! The difference lies in the manufacturing process. During manufacturing, any potentially harmful ions are destroyed, leaving behind only the silver ions and the polymer — which acts as a carrier and preservative for the silver in your skincare. This means that these silver ions (compared to those in colloidal silver and nano-silver) are the LEAST likely of their kind to cause any type of negative reaction, making Silver Citrate suitable for ALL skin types! And even better — it will promote skin healing and support overall skin health in those with sensitive skins or compromised skin barriers. An all-natural antimicrobial skin purifier suitable for even the most sensitive of skins? Sounds too good to be true!
A study conducted by the SCCS (Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety)
assessed the safety of these silver ions being released from their preservative carrier for use in cosmetic products. Over 25 scientists concluded that not only is Silver Citrate safe for cosmetic use, but they confirmed that there is an overwhelmingly low possibility that you’ll experience any type of skin irritation from the silver. The SCCS found that the silver ions released into the cosmetic product were in such small amounts that the risk of any skin sensitivity developing from dermal absorption would be ‘exceedingly low.’ Essentially, the polymer ensures that you experience all of the benefits of silver, with none of the drawbacks. Here at Shielded Beauty, we think Silver Citrate might just be the bacteria-fighting skincare superhero ingredient you never knew you needed... until now! Be one of the first to try Silver Citrate and prepare to reap in the benefits of this skin-healing superstar.
Head over to our website to learn more at www.shieldedbeauty.com.
Do you have a skincare ingredient you swear by? An ingredient you previously stayed away from but now love? We’d love to hear about what works best for you Please get in touch with us over on Instagram at @shielded_safeguardyourskin & let’s chat about all things SKIN!
Sources
Cosmeticobs.com. 2021. EcoG+: a new preservative approved by the SCCS. [online]
Available at: <https://cosmeticobs.com/en/articles/ingredients-news-59/ecog-a-new-
preservative-approved-by-the-sccs-3440> [Accessed 6 March 2021].
Gloss, G., 2021. Silver skincare is here to treat your acne and sensitivity. [online] Get The
Gloss. Available at: <https://www.getthegloss.com/article/silver-skincare-is-here-to-treat-
your-acne-and-sensitivity> [Accessed 6 March 2021].
Degen, G., 2016. Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) – Final
version of the opinion on Eco G+ in cosmetic products. Regulatory Toxicology and
Pharmacology, [online] 82, p.157. Available at: <https://ec.europa.eu/health/
scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_198.pdf>.
Other Links
https://info.lululemon.com/design/fabrics-technology/silverescent
https://silver-botanicals.com/products/silver-shield-deodorant.html
https://silvermiracles.com/colloidal-silver-extra-strength-soap/