Natural skin care is a rising trend in the cosmetics industry. Brands strive to develop products that bolster the skin’s innate ability to heal itself, utilizing naturally derived ingredients and forgoing harsh chemicals, toxins, synthetics, and other potentially damaging agents.
Silicones are synthetic ingredients that have been used in skin care for decades, but new brands are turning to silicone-free solutions.
This article explains the benefits of silicon-free skin care and recommends products that feature clean, medical-grade ingredients for healthy, vibrant skin.
Why Are Silicones Used in Skincare Products?
Silicones have a silky texture that helps easily spread the product and leave a smooth finish. They hydrate the skin and are cheap to produce. They also increase product stability and shelf life.
However, silicones’ hydrating and skin-smoothing effects are temporary and do not provide long-term benefits. They may even exacerbate conditions like acne and dry skin, block the absorption of other ingredients, and pollute the environment due to their non-biodegradable nature.
Note: Learn why it’s best to avoid silicone in skin care.
Alternatives for Silicone in Skin Care
There are many healthier alternatives to silicones. Examples of moisture-retaining ingredients that are replacing silicones in skin care include:
- Squalane
- Fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6)
- Shea butter
- Avocado oil
- Jojoba oil
- Aloe vera gel
- Bamboo
- Seaweed extracts, etc.
These natural substances nourish and deeply hydrate the skin, helping to improve skin barrier function and revitalize the skin.
What Is Silicone-Free Skin Care?
Silicone-free skin care is formulated with naturally derived, silicone-free ingredients. It is usually also paraben-free, alcohol-free, and environmentally friendly. These products are formulated to infuse the skin with ingredients that feed the microbiome, repair skin cells, enhance collagen production, and balance the neurotransmitters affecting skin health.
Benefits of Silicone-Free Skin Care
The benefits of silicone-free skin care depend on the product’s exact formulation and active ingredients. Cosmetics without silicone typically include all-natural ingredients that have the following advantages over synthetic products:
- Break down faster and don’t pollute the environment.
- Allow the skin to breathe.
- Don’t clog pores.
- Enhance moisture levels and skin barrier function.
- Work synergistically with the skin’s innate ability to repair itself.
Challenges of Going Silicone-Free
Silicone is a convenient, cheap ingredient, and manufacturers who want to create a product without it face several challenges. They must find alternatives that are just as emollient, easily spreadable, and non-irritating as silicone but are also safe and provide long-lasting benefits for skin health. The process requires meticulous research and testing of different ingredients.
Silicone-Free Skin Care: Product Recommendations
Vibrant has created a premium-quality, medical-grade skincare line without silicone. These products are also:
- Alcohol-free
- Paraben-free
- Phthalate-free
- Cruelty-free
- Microbiome-friendly
- Mineral-oil free
- Vegan
Vibrant products are the result of emerging research on the importance of gut-brain-skin balance for healthy, radiant skin. Vibrant experts recommend the following silicone-free, all-natural solutions.
Vibrant Cleanse
Vibrant Cleanse is a dermatologist-tested face wash for all skin types. It is formulated with papaya and pineapple enzymes that gently break down and remove dirt, oil, and makeup, helping to clear and refresh the skin. It also helps maintain adequate moisture levels and a strong skin barrier thanks to prebiotics (inulin), probiotics (Lactococcus ferment lysate), and postbiotics (lactic acid). Finally, botanicals like raspberry fruit, neem, and kumquat extracts infuse the skin with potent antioxidants and energy-enhancing ingredients, helping to repair and revitalize the complexion.
Note: Learn how innovative, microbiome-friendly ingredients like prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics enhance skin health.
Vibrant Elevate
Elevate is a skincare powerhouse that soothes, hydrates and prepares the skin for serums and creams. It is packed with skin-loving, naturally derived ingredients, including:
- Cucumber extract - Keeps the skin moisturized.
- Matcha green tea - Protects from environmental stressors.
- Microbiome-friendly prebiotics and probiotics - Promote a healthy skin barrier.
- Chlorophyll – Fights premature aging signs.
- Manuka honey – Promotes skin cell regeneration and restores the skin’s youthfulness.
- Astaxanthin – Helps reduce oxidative stress and enhance collagen production.
Elevate is a must-have in daily skin care. It is especially useful after LED light therapy because it helps absorb the healing light and protects from free radical damage.
Vibrant Tone
Tone is another silicone-free formula in the Vibrant collection that brings the skin closer to its natural radiance. It reduces redness, tightens pores, and supports the skin barrier thanks to probiotics, vitamin C, niacinamide, and soothing plant extracts. The Vibrant team’s favorite ingredient in Tone - lemongrass hydrosol - helps to reduce stress, calm nerves, and uplift and refresh the skin.
Desert Vibe Serum
Desert Vibe Serum is a potent blend of nourishing, revitalizing ingredients, including beta-glucan, gotu kola (centella), wild indigo (neurophroline), prickly pear, and snow mushroom. They reduce oxidative damage, increase hydration, regenerate collagen, and enhance skin immunity, visibly improving aging signs and skin health.
Vibrant C Serum
Vibrant C is a luxurious, rejuvenating, and skin-brightening serum. Vitamin C and glutathione are the star ingredients, helping to reverse wrinkles, dark spots, acne, and promote a stronger skin barrier. Ingredients that complement the skin-enhancing effects of this antioxidant duo include:
- Vanilla hydrosol – Reduces stress and depression, uplifts, and moisturizes the skin.
- Lactobacillus ferment (probiotic) – Increases beneficial bacteria in the skin.
- Sorbitol (prebiotic) – Feeds probiotics.
- Lactobacillus ferment lysate (postbiotic) – Keeps the microbiome in balance.
- Amino acids (lysine, glycine, proline, hydroxyproline) – Support collagen production.
Vibrant Defense
Defense is a serum for blemish-prone skin, which reduces oiliness and provides strong protection against internal and external stressors. It is formulated with retinal (vitamin A derivative) and plant-based bakuchiol, which exhibits retinoid properties. They stimulate cellular turnover and collagen production, balance oil production, and help unclog pores. The product is also infused with other antibacterial and soothing ingredients, such as nutmeg, vanilla, probiotics, zinc PCA, and mandelic acid.
Vibrant Spot On
Another all-natural blemish-control treatment, Spot On is packed with anti-inflammatory, soothing, and balancing ingredients:
- Totarol – Active phytochemical against acne-causing bacteria, and a potent antioxidant.
- Licorice root extract – Kills pathogenic bacteria and helps control oil production.
- Black BeeOme™ and BioFense™ - Probiotic formula for stronger skin immunity and barrier function.
- Vanilla fruit extract – Provides antibacterial and antioxidant protection, helping to prevent breakouts and soothe irritated skin.
- Niacinamide – Reduces inflammation, regulates sebum production, and brightens the skin.
Vibrant Restore
Restore is a clarifying moisturizer for normal and oily skin. It balances sebum production, reduces blemishes, strengthens the skin’s microbiome, calms redness, and hydrates. This nourishing formula contains soothing, hydrating, and antioxidant ingredients like cucumber fruit water, jojoba oil, totarol, beta-glucan, niacinamide, calendula, and more.
Vibrant Mud
Mud is a facial mask infused with kaolin clay, bentonite clay, and activated charcoal, which deeply cleanses the pores of toxins and impurities and helps balance oily, acne-prone skin. It also contains anti-inflammatory, soothing, and barrier-strengthening ingredients like willow bark, calendula, cranberry fruit extract, prebiotics, and probiotics.
Apply it to clean skin, leave it on for ten minutes, and rinse with warm water. Use it weekly for the best results.
Conclusion
There is a growing demand for natural, environmentally-friendly cosmetic products. Consumers are interested in healthier alternatives to synthetic ingredients like silicone. Look for products that truly enhance skin health and appearance - Vibrant’s new skincare line has all you need for a youthful, glowing complexion.
