by
Essentique
Silicone. By now, it’s probably something you’ve learned to be wary of, something you know you don’t want in your hair or skincare products. But do you know why? Do you know why companies are still putting it in these products if it’s bad for you? Do you know what can you use instead?
Silicone is used in cosmetic and skincare products because it creates a smooth, soft feel (known as “slip”) desirable for most skincare applications. Applied to the hair, it creates a glossy shine while improving comb-ability.
This all sounds good–why don’t we want it in our beauty products? The standard process for obtaining silicon for making silicone typically involves precipitating silica in a reaction mixture that is kept in the alkaline pH region. The solution is then mixed with sulfuric acid, sodium silicate and water. These harsh chemicals are what we want to keep away from our skin.
So how can we get the benefits of silicone? Bamboo can be used as an alternative to silicone, because it serves as a natural source of silica. In the large grass, the silica is probably used to provide structural support for the plant. Bamboo BioFerment, used in lotions, creams, shampoos, conditioners, leave-in treatments, and make-up can help provide the slip and aesthetics of silicone, without the added chemicals that accompany artificial silicone. Bamboo BioFerment is obtained by macerating and fermenting (with the help of Lactobacillus lactis bacteria) bamboo leaves, so the extraction process is all natural.
Get the slip and shine of silicone without any of the accompanying harshness by trying a product that contains the natural, exotic alternative–bamboo! Find Bamboo BioFerment in Essentique’s Blue Bliss, Revitaçai, and Maruculous.
