Serums laced with silver to help prevent breakouts, brightening face masks charged with 24-carat gold and moisturisers infused with platinum to help combat fine lines – all the hottest new skincare seems to contain precious metals.
So what’s the hype behind the bling?
Cosmetic doctor Sonia Khorana says there’s some good science behind the trend: ‘Silver has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, whilst gold is said to be an antioxidant, helping to protect the skin against damaging free-radicals.’
And there’s a reason why they’re having a moment now.
‘Technological advancements mean beauty brands can create formulas more effective at delivering these ingredients to the top layers of skin,’ says Dr Khorana (@dermgp).
All the hottest new skincare seems to contain precious metals, such as serums laced with silver to help prevent breakouts
Cosmetic doctor Sonia Khorana says there’s some good science behind the trend: ‘Silver has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, whilst gold is said to be an antioxidant, helping to protect the skin against damaging free-radicals’
But she adds: ‘It’s important to note, many claims are still anecdotal – more research is needed to determine just how effective skincare laced with metal really is.’
It won’t come as a surprise that adding gold or platinum to skincare doesn’t come cheap, either. So with some brands charging upwards of £300 for a serum, which products really seem to give you bang for your buck?
We put the precious metal products to the test…
Silver spot treatment
47 Skin Anti Blemish & Scar Serum, from £29 for 30ml, 47skin.com
Silver is an effective spot treatment, forming an antibacterial layer over the skin to help prevent breakouts
There’s a lot of hype around silver chitoderm skincare as a gentle alternative for treating acne and pimples. That’s thanks largely to the launch of 47 Skin, which patented this ingredient for its range of products.
It’s an effective spot treatment – silver forms an antibacterial layer over the skin to help prevent breakouts, while combining it with chitoderm helps fade acne scarring. No wonder this is a bestseller.
VERDICT: This definitely helped clear up some hormonal pimples on my chin, without drying out my skin or leaving it flaky like many spot treatments. The post-pimple redness faded quickly too – I’m impressed. It didn’t break the bank, either. 5/5
Gold standard serum
Chantecaille Gold Intense Serum, £375 for 30ml, chantecaille.co.uk
This serum contains pure gold, which is said to improve the stability of Vitamin C and enhance its antioxidant properties
This serum contains a new ingredient, 24k gold bound with Vitamin C. The pure gold is said to improve the Vitamin C’s stability and enhance its antioxidant properties, resulting in a radiant, smoother complexion.
It also contains gold peptide – which the brand’s own research suggests can reduce wrinkle depth by 35 per cent in a month.
Dr Khorana is sceptical about its claims, however, and says that unless further studies prove otherwise a good Vitamin C might do a similar job.
VERDICT: There’s no doubt this product looks and feels luxe – the serum’s featherlight and sinks in immediately, leaving my skin hydrated with a gorgeous glow. Yet after using it for a few weeks, I’m not sure I noticed enough of a difference in my actual wrinkles to justify the splurge. 3/5
Anti-ageing Copper Cream
Wildsmith Copper Peptide Cream, from £33 for 15ml, wildsmithskin.com
Dr Khorana says there’s some evidence that copper can help reduce wrinkles, while peptides are chains of amino acids (the building blocks of protein) that help stimulate collagen production
Bioactive copper peptides are believed to help improve skin’s firmness, increase collagen and elastin production to keep skin supple, and provide antioxidant protection from ageing too.
Dr Khorana says there’s some evidence that copper can help reduce wrinkles, while peptides are chains of amino acids (the building blocks of protein) that help stimulate collagen production, so in theory copper peptides could be beneficial.
VERDICT: I loved how this product can be used morning and evening – no need for a separate night cream. It definitely helped my skin feel bouncier, smoother and more even-toned, so I’ll carry on using it. Bonus points because it smells incredible. 4/5
Pore-shrinking silver lotion
Omorovicza Silver Skin Lotion, £85 for 50ml, omorovicza.co.uk
Omorovicza’s skin lotion contains colloidal silver, known for anti-microbial properties, and niacinamide to help minimise visible pores
This milky emulsion contains colloidal silver, known for anti-microbial properties, combined with niacinamide, a proven ingredient that helps minimise visible pores.
Dr Khorana says anecdotally silver is thought to support the skin barrier. The ingredients niacinamide and zinc will help to calm redness.
VERDICT: While this was soothing on my acne-prone skin, it felt really sticky and took a long time to sink in, so I didn’t want to apply it in the morning under my makeup. 2/5
Platinum package
Prai’s Platinum Firm & Lift Eye Cream, £32 for 15ml, praibeauty.co.uk
Prai’s eye cream felt rich and nourishing, but this may have been due to the fact it contains hyaluronic acid, a renowned hydrator, rather than the platinum itself
Hailed as the one of the most expensive metals on the planet, platinum is touted as the key ingredient in Prai’s Platinum Firm & Lift Eye Cream.
It’s believed to help boost skin moisture levels and provide antioxidant protection against ageing free-radicals – so it should give you smoother under-eyes.
VERDICT: This felt rich and nourishing on my under-eyes, but I wonder if that was more due to the fact it contains hyaluronic acid, a renowned hydrator, rather than the platinum itself. I didn’t detect much difference or improvement in my crepey skin either. 1/5
Golden touch?
Cle de Peau’s Precious Gold Vitality Mask, £265 for 75ml, harrods.com
This luxe mask is laced with 24-carat gold to help brighten dull skin, prevent the signs of ageing and boost moisture levels in the skin
Complete with its own paintbrush for easy application, this luxe mask is laced with 24-carat gold to help brighten dull skin, prevent oxidative stress (which causes signs of ageing) and boost moisture levels in the skin for 24 hours.
The brand’s own research found 85 per cent of women noticed a difference in their skin after use. However, Dr Khorana says it’s worth noting one of the main ingredients is glycerin, a common hydrator in many much cheaper face masks.
VERDICT: Applying this was undoubtedly glamourous, in both look and feel. It definitely left my skin plumper, softer and glowier immediately afterwards. But the eye-watering price tag makes this inaccessible for most of us mere mortals – and a cheaper mask would give similar results. 4/5
Gold eye-bag buster
Revolution Skincare Gold Eye Hydrogel Patches, £15 for 30 pairs, revolutionbeauty.com
The Revolution eye patches contain colloidal gold that the brand says helps brighten the under-eyes, for a firmed, lifted look
Gel eye masks that you pop on for ten minutes as a quick fix to minimise puffy eye-bags have been around a while – but these contain colloidal gold that the brand says helps brighten the under-eyes, for a firmed, lifted look. They also contain hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin.
Dr Khorana queried how effectively the collodial gold could be delivered into the skin as the gel patches sit on top of the skin.
VERDICT: These definitely looked pretty and felt really cooling and soothing on under-eyes. They did help temporarily reduce puffiness and aren’t expensive. But I’m not sure the gold made much of a difference. 2/5