This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Silk Therapeutics. Product samples were provided to facilitate this story, but the opinions and text are all mine.
The cat’s out of the bag! During the month of April I will be switching to clean and non-toxic beauty products as part of an experiment. I’ve always been curious to find out how natural skincare stacks up against the latest lab-made innovations, and I believe that finding the right balance between the two will essentially help me discover my ultimate anti-aging beauty routine. Although April is still a few weeks away, I decided to give you all a little sneak peek. If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen this mini-review of the latest offerings from LabGrab by Silk Therapeutics. Let’s talk about them today, shall we?
When I asked some of my friends what they think about natural skincare, the majority agreed that it’s probably healthier to use, but the products often seem unimaginative. I think I know what they mean. Unfortunately, as good and pure as they come, many of the natural lotions & potions I tried have the sophistication level of a Pinterest DIY project. As skincare got transformed from a daily chore into more of a me-time ritual over the past few years, the consumers are now seeking products that are pleasant and fun to use; and few things are more pleasant and luxurious than silk. Founded by two silk scientists, both passionate about high-performance skincare that utilizes minimal ingredients, Silk Therapeutics has set out on a mission to change your mind about clean beauty.
True to their name, the company puts pure silk at the core of all of their formulations. This wonderful natural ingredient has quite a few tricks up its sleeve! Studies show that when applied topically, silk works as a water-binding agent, kind of like Hyaluronic Acid, and acts as an antioxidant to protect the skin from free radicals [ref.: Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, January 1998, pages 145–147]. Silk Therapeutics went a step further and found a way to liquefy silk fibers and eliminate the need for additional stabilizers, emulsifiers, fillers, and harsh preservatives the cosmetics industry has come to rely on. This allows for a much shorter and cleaner ingredient list. By minimizing the number of ingredients, the likelihood of potential allergies, irritations, and skin reactions is also greatly diminished.
Freed from sericin and other impurities, Silk Therapeutics products contain perhaps the purest form of silk currently available in cosmetics, but the process comes at a high price. At this time, transforming silk fiber into pure liquid silk costs more than gold, platinum, and most other precious gems and metals found on Earth. Extensive hours poured into research & development required to ensure stability, safety, and feel of the formulations, are also calculated into the final cost of each product.
Here’s where LabGrab comes in.
The main Silk Therapeutics™ skincare collection includes only a handful of top-of-the-line products, and the LabGrab project was created to share some alternative formulations for a limited time at a more accessible price point. During the research & development phase, Silk Therapeutics scientists spend several months to come up with 10 to 20 different formulas. Each of them goes through extensive testing, but only one is chosen to go into production, based on the need and fit of the product for the main skincare line. LabGrab provides the opportunity to try some of these groundbreaking, innovative beauty treats at a steep discount. After all, who wouldn’t want to try what was otherwise a $150 serum, at a fraction of the cost?
I had the opportunity to try two of the products that will be offered by LabGrab for a limited time after the official launch: Serum-Fine Lines and Cream-Eye Renewal.
Serum-Fine Lines is a highly concentrated treatment that targets the main signs of skin aging: fine lines and hyper-pigmentation. Clinical studies show that after just one week of daily use, Serum-Fine Lines helped soften the appearance of fine lines, and improved skin’s radiance, restoring a more youthful complexion. This highly potent formula includes pure liquid silk in its activated form, Vitamin C, Sodium Hyaluronate, and a cocktail of natural antioxidants to promote healthier-looking skin.
Since this treatment is very concentrated, no more than 1 drop is needed to enjoy the full beauty benefits of this exquisite serum. When used sparingly, it layers well with other skincare and makeup products.
Ingredients: Water, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Soluble Fibroin (Silk), Populus Tremuloides (Aspen) Bark Extract, Sodium Anisate, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Neroli) Essential Oil.
Cream-Eye Renewal is, as you might have guessed, an eye cream. It was created using trademarked Silk Microcapsule™ technology that “encapsulates” and stabilizes the active ingredients. These encapsulated ingredients stay fresh within the capsules and are released once the capsules are broken during the application. That’s why it always feels like I am applying a brand new eye cream, even though I’ve been using it for weeks.
Just like the serum, Cream-Eye Renewal is clinically proven to show visible results in as little as 7 days of daily use. Personally, I noticed that it helped the skin around my eyes look and feel more lifted, firmer, and more awake. It seems to work wonders to diminish the appearance of morning puffiness, too, which is currently my biggest concern. I use this eye cream every day, AM and PM, by melting a tiny amount – no bigger than a grain of rice – between my fingertips, and gently dabbing it onto the skin until fully absorbed.
Ingredients: Water, Rosa Moschata (Rosehip) Seed Oil, Soluble Fibroin (Silk), Caffeine, Citric Acid, Sodium Anisate, Populus Tremuloides (Aspen) Bark Extract.
I feel like there is still a lot to be said about Silk Therapeutics and LabGrab, but I will save those updates for my Clean Beauty Month features in April. I plan to document the experience on this blog and on my social media channels every day. Most of the updates will probably be on Snapchat and Instagram stories, so if you aren’t already following me there – search for @glamorable on both platforms.
LabGrab officially launches on March 9th, and each product will be available in limited quantities for a limited time only, so make sure to grab your favorites right away. Visit www.labgrab.com to find out where these products may be purchased. Silk Therapeutics skincare is phthalate, paraben and fragrance free, made with non-GMO cruelty free pure natural silk, and never tested on animals. The products are also EWG-verified, so you can rest assured that they meet the company’s strict standards for purity and safety.
Does pure, natural skincare with silk sound like something you’d be interested in? Have you ever tried switching to a clean and non-toxic beauty routine? Let me know in the comments below!
Disclosure: This post features sponsored content. For more details about my product review policy, copyright, and information about affiliate links, please refer to Disclosures & Content Use page.
