Face: The Final Frontier
Not all cosmetic tinctures are made in test tubes – top dermatologists now harness the power of meteorites. But is better skin written in the stars?
The founding of Nasa in 1958 marked the start of the space age, an era of creativity, promise and achievement that prompted high (albeit vain) hopes of a Jetsons lifestyle. It was never to be. But for skincare pioneers, there has been a relatively small leap from cosmology to the cosmetics counter.
Rather than seek out alien life, men’s grooming powerhouse Lab Series decided to invest its experimental budget in harnessing the anti-ageing potential of meteorites. Both the Dual Concentrate and the Singular Cream moisturisers from the new Maxellence collection feature meteorite extracts sourced from the core of achondrite asteroids.
It’s not as far-fetched as it sounds. Thousands of tons of silica-rich meteorites fall to Earth each year. But, by the time they arrive, it’s mostly dust-sized particles – the remnants of a shooting star that has penetrated the planet’s atmosphere. This, it turns out, is the good stuff.
“Meteorite extract is rich in salts such as magnesium and calcium, which play an important role in skin epidermal function, so it’s entirely conceivable these products can significantly improve skin hydration and smoothness,” says cosmetic dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting, before cautioning against novelty. However, Lab Series aren’t exactly going where no man has gone before. Scientists have long known, for instance, that astronauts exposed to radiation and zero gravity age at accelerated rates. Which is why the Harley Street-based 111Skin have been so far as to test their day creams on astronauts in “extreme space conditions”.
Granted, Lab Series’ mission is a little closer to home. But with their new moisturisers promising to smooth wrinkles and restore a youthful glow, we’re willing to trust their efforts. After all, the results could be cosmic.
“Astronauts exposed to zero gravity and radiation age at accelerated rates”