A trend can rarely withstand the test of time in the fashion and beauty industry for hundreds of years. Gold, however, has done just that. Gold is more than a timeless metal. It has important roots in politics, royalty, and ancient culture worldwide. Gold has made its way onto the skincare market in the form of eye masks, oils, and serums. While wearing gold is safe for most people, is it safe and effective for skincare?
What is Gold?
Gold is both a precious and chemical element. It can be found in two main forms in skincare products: pure 24-karat or colloidal gold powder.
Colloidal gold also called “nanogold” and “gold nanoparticles”, is thought to be “highly stable” because they penetrate deeper into the skin. While there isn’t enough data to prove that gold nanoparticles work, some dermatologists believe they have potential benefits.
Benefits of gold for skin
Although clinical trials on gold in skincare have been limited, there is still promising evidence about its skin benefits. Here are some ways gold can improve your skincare routine.
Enhancing other ingredients in skincare: Ciraldo points out that gold could help other ingredients pack a greater punch when it comes to effectiveness. It seems gold can be used as a carrier to aid penetration. Ciraldo suggests that it could be possible that gold helps penetration of other actives in the product.
Anti-aging and protection against aging: According to the same Journal of Pharmaceutics research, nanogold beauty products can increase the “firmness” and “elasticity” of skin and slow down the “aging process.” Rodney also stated that the properties of gold “can protect your skin against environmental pollutants and chronic sunlight damage“, which can cause the skin to age faster and create a sense of urgency.
Healing properties According to a 2021 study by Molecules (a peer-reviewed journal in chemistry), gold nanoparticles “accelerate wound healing mechanism through multiple mechanisms such as antioxidant activity.” 1
Side effects of gold
Some dermatologists consider gold a promising ingredient. However, others are wary of claiming it to be a hero ingredient because there is not enough data or studies on using gold in skincare. Jaliman says that there are no FDA guidelines for gold in skincare or FDA-approved indications of gold in dermatology. “It’s just a lot of hype,” says Jaliman.
Gold, like many other ingredients in skincare, can irritate some. You might skip this trend if you have a history of an allergy to gold or suspect that you may have one. You should patch-test all new products on a small area of your skin. Then, monitor the skin for signs of irritation for several days. Ciraldo says it is important to be patient following a patch test as irritations such as contact dermatitis may take up to 72 hours.
How to Use it
You can find gold in eye masks and many other forms of skincare, as gold continues to dominate the beauty industry. This means that the time and frequency at which you use gold may vary from one product to another.
Rodney says, “It all depends on the product with gold in it.” If the brand recommends it, a serum can be used daily. As a rule of thumb, Rodney suggests you aim for two to three days per week.
The Best Skincare Products Made with Gold
This gold face mask is perfect for a night in. It helps fight the signs of aging and uses Hyaluronic Acid to plump up your skin. Rodney recommends this mask because it doubles down in gold power. It contains both 24K as well as colloidal gold. Rodney claims this mask will “help heal your skin and refresh it.” This 24-karat-gold serum contains collagen and vitamin B3 and will give you glowing skin. Jaliman explained that Niacinamide, a type of vitamin B3, is good in combination with the gold ingredient.
Ciraldo recommends this luxurious, easy-to-use layer-by-layer gold recovery masque. Ciraldo says that this mask is loaded with botanicals and peptides. The 24K gold and silk extracts offer extra antioxidant power to achieve glowing and firm skin.
This gold foil serum looks great in your medicine cabinets and moisturizes and reduces the signs of aging. Rodney recommends this serum because of its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant ingredients, such as 24K gold, Vitamin C, hyaluronic acids, and vitamin D.
Ciraldo also recommends this vegan face mask made with 24K gold and mud of the Dead Sea. Ciraldo says that gold is used here for its purposes and to aid in the penetration and activation of minerals. This mask treatment takes only 10 minutes and will hydrate and smoothen the skin.
