While ingesting minerals as part of a balanced diet is an obvious way to improve and enhance the condition of our health, we can also apply minerals topically to help achieve a healthy balanced complexion. However, in order to receive the full impact of minerals via skincare, it is essential that minerals are formulated in the correct way. Once broken down into tiny nanoparticles or partnered with certain carriers, the nutrients can penetrate the skin more easily and be utilised in the right way so that the benefits are paramount. Below, we bring you the lowdown on which specific minerals will help to improve the condition of your skin and which products to reach for when your skin is dry, damaged or going through hormonal changes.
Mineral:
Sulphur
Why You’ll Want To Add To Your Routine?
Soothing and healing, sulphur helps to speed up the cell renewal process and so is good for regenerating the skin. Dr Dennis Gross explains how, due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, sulphur is a great ingredient for people with rosacea as, “it works to reduce both the bumps and redness seen in the condition.” He says.
Good For:
Dry, sensitive or problematic skin conditions e.g. eczema and psoriasis.
Found In:
Mineral:
MSM
Why You’ll Want To Add To Your Routine?
A natural form of sulphur, an essential mineral vital for cell regeneration, methyl sulphonyl methane helps to increase collagen and elastin production and so protects skin against premature ageing and skin damage. “MSM is to collagen, what flour is to bread,” explains Georgie Cleeve founder of Oskia. “It’s not only the building block of collagen and keratin, but it boosts the body’s own key anti-oxidant, glutathione, as well as being extremely anti-inflammatory.” Continues Georgie.
Good For:
Ageing skin.
Found In:
Mineral:
Magnesium
Why You’ll Want To Add To Your Routine?
Magnesium helps to aid the regeneration and healing of damaged skin cells and is most easily absorbed through the skin. “Magnesium works to brighten, de-stress and energise exhausted skin through trans-dermal absorption.” Explains explains David Delport, Global Ambassador at REN. “It’s a key active ingredient in our Atlantic Kelp Body Range, designed to relieve muscle tension and help the body to unwind and relax post exercise.”
Good For:
Dry, energy deficient skin.
Found In:
Mineral:
Silver
Why You’ll Want To Add To Your Routine?
Silver has been used as a natural antibacterial treatment for centuries, but scientists have more recently discovered that silver nanonparticles, also known as colloidal silver, have the power to eliminate germs and bacteria and encourage skin to repair itself. Its ability to repair damaged skin cells and trigger regeneration makes colloidal silver an effective treatment for targeting blemish-prone skin, signs of ageing and scarring and inflammation. “Our patented science utilises a combination of Silver Hydrosol & DNA HP (an ethically sourced marine polymer) to deliver super hydrating, restorative and anti-ageing skincare.” Says Joy Isaacs, founder and CEO of ARgENTUM.
Good For:
Blemish-prone and ageing skin.
Found In:
Argentum Apothecary La Potion InfinieRestorative Day & Night Cream
Mineral:
Zinc
Why You’ll Want To Add To Your Routine?
The ultimate blemish-buster, zinc helps to control and regulate the production of oil and sebum in the skin and so is good for breakouts. It also helps to speed up cell regeneration and so can help to heal red, angry and inflamed skin often associated with the aftermath of blemishes.
“While blemish-prone skin often benefits from zinc, let’s also not forget the indirect benefit of zinc oxide as a physical sunscreen, which is used to effectively prevent sun damage – the primary cause of accelerated ageing,” explains David Delport, Global Ambassador at REN.
Good For:
Blemish-prone skin and sun protection.
Found In:
REN CleaCalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser and Ren Clean Screen Mineral SPF30