Today we’re talking about gold facials — yep, a facial where they slather skin-soothing ingredients and real gold on your face.
Businesses that provide these facials claim that gold has many skin-boosting properties.
But does science-backed evidence really confirm these claims? That’s where we come in!
A gold facial? Uh… really?
Really. Some salons offer gold facials with 24-karat gold included in services, due to the metal’s purported anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties.
While gold facials are a recent invention, there’s evidence that goes as far back as 2500 B.C. of gold used in traditional Chinese, Indian, and Arabic medicine.
For example, Swarna bhasmaTrusted Source (which translates to “gold ash”) is used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat:
- asthma
- rheumatoid arthritis
- diabetes mellitus
- nervous system diseases
In fact, gold compounds have been used off-label to treat skin conditions like cutaneous lupus and pemphigus vulgaris, a dermatologist
Oral medications containing gold, such as auranofin, were also once used as a second- or third-line agent to reduce joint inflammation in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Benefits of gold on skin
Advertisements for gold facials often claim that gold has a host of skin-improving benefits, including:
- reducing inflammation and redness
- protecting against free radicals
- supporting collagen production
- fighting aging
“Though scientific evidence is lacking, gold is thought to have powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties
Some makers of gold beauty products claim that gold flecks warm your skin to help with circulation. But most gold skin products are made with colloidal gold. These are nanoparticles suspended in liquid that are tiny enough to penetrate your skin.
Although scientific research and reviews suggest that gold compounds may interfere with processes in your body that lead to inflammation, “currently there are no FDA-approved indications for gold specific to dermatology,”
Skin care companies claim that gold products and facials can:
- reduce wrinkles
- calm inflammation
- increase absorption of other skin care products
However, “there is no scientific data that gold can do any of this when applied to skin,” “Gold may have some antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but there is no evidence that it’s better than any other more commonly used ingredients that have more scientific data.”
Does it work?
Sure, gold facials may benefit your skin — but it’s likely because the gold is mixed with other, more effective ingredients.
A few common ingredients added to gold that make it truly effective include:
- Peptides. Peptides are naturally occurring amino acids that make up proteins in your skin. Research, including a 2020 review, suggests peptides may help repair skin aging and sun damage and improve your skin’s barrier function.
- Antioxidants. Antioxidants like vitamin C o neutralize normally occurring free radicals in order to treat sun damage, skin aging, and inflammatory skin conditions like psoriasis.
- Alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). AHAs, such as glycolic acid and lactic acid, are n skin care peels to regenerate and thicken skin as a treatment for acne, scars, dark spots, and age spots.
- Glycerin. suggest that glycerin helps boost your skin’s barrier function to lock in moisture and protect against irritants.
- Hyaluronic acid. This substance, which your body naturally makes, binds to water. shows that hyaluronic acid may help increase your skin’s hydration and decrease the appearance of wrinkles. It may also help treat mild to moderate eczema by improving your skin’s barrier function, according to a
The tiny nanoparticles in colloidal gold also give skin a shimmery glow that might make it look immediately brighter and slightly bronzed, adds Shainhouse.
“This visual effect can make skin tone appear more even and younger, as the particles reflect light,
