Did you know that copper might be in more beauty products than you think? This mineral and its variations are common ingredients in Själ Skincare products such as Själ's Orbe [eye contour crème], Kura Intuitif [intense hydration crème], and Kashmir Saphir [perfecting mask], due to their impressive variety of benefits to aging skin. Historically, however, copper’s usage dates back more than ten thousand years.
Copper was first used to sterilize wounds sometime between 2600 and 2200 BCE. Other early reports of copper’s medicinal uses include using copper compounds for headaches and burns. The first modern research on the subject of copper’s medicinal use was done by Professor John R. J. Sorenson of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Pharmacy. In 1966, Dr. Sorenson demonstrated that copper complexes can be used to successfully treat patients with ailments such as chronic degenerative diseases.
When it comes to your skin, a copper deficiency can result in wrinkles, crow’s feet (fine lines on the outer sides of the eyes leading outwards), varicose veins, and saggy skin. Certain peptides, the small fragments of proteins that serve as the key building blocks of most living tissues, have an affinity for copper, to which they bind very tightly. This resulting compound becomes, you guessed it, a copper peptide. When infused in skincare products, copper peptides are said to improve elastic fibers in the skin, increase skin flexibility, calm inflammation, and act as an anti-wrinkle treatment by promoting capillary function – thus awakening even the most tired, exhausted skin.
Check out Elemental Energy for more info on making the most out of your minerals, and shop the collection of precious-mineral-infused skincare here.