The Luxury of Silk On Your Skin
The silk that was discovered centuries ago in a mulberry garden by a queen observing a cocoon swinging from a branch at tea time has shaped history and since then, silk has always been a symbol of luxury, elegance and wealth. It is very delicate and laborious to produce silk thread. From pupae to the formation of the adult butterfly, the surrounding organic environmental conditions must protect it from any harmful exposure. At the end of production, cocoons are obtained without any exposure to contamination. Silk, which is used in many sectors, is therefore an expensive product.
Since its discovery, silk has always been a matter of curiosity to scientists. With the possibilities from developments in technology, silk hydrolysates have been obtained and their biological effects have been the subject of many studies.
Skin and hair is made of keratin. Since silk is a natural keratin structure, it is a natural biological substance that is very suitable for use in cosmetics.
Hydrolysed silk proteins give a silky texture and a luxurious feeling when added to hair and skin products. In addition to the way silk feels, silk peptides, with their amino acid composition, are effective in anti-ageing enzyme activities in cell metabolism. The most important factor in the ageing of the skin is the damage caused to the cell DNA when we are exposed to UV rays. Reactive oxygen types produced by ultraviolet light cause photo carcinogenic and photo ageing changes in the skin.
Today, in skin care and our fight against ageing, the immense value of antioxidants against free radicals caused by various external effects is great. When evaluated in this context, hydrolysed silk peptides play a preventative role in many oxidation reactions, especially lipid peroxidation and tyrosine kinase enzyme activities.
Silk proteins are good water absorbers with their antibacterial and antifungal structure. They provide the ideal moisture balance by taking excess moisture out. In this way, the skin maintains a microbiome balance. With the report published by the cosmetic safety commission in 2016, it has been confirmed that the use of hydrolysed silk peptides for cosmetic use is safe. Currently, silk peptides with their natural structure, many amazing properties and being safe and stable on human skin are the most sought-after, functional and natural cosmetic raw material.
