Imagine having an important date tonight, and you don’t have time to address any skin issues. Makeup alone won’t fix problems like eye bags or sagging skin. If only there were a magic wand to make all those problems disappear instantly! In May 2016, the journal Nature Materials reported a new technology that can temporarily increase skin elasticity and reduce wrinkles, essentially giving skin a “shape-wear” boost.
Imagine having an important date tonight, and you don’t have time to address any skin issues. Makeup alone won’t fix problems like eye bags or sagging skin. If only there were a magic wand to make all those problems disappear instantly! In May 2016, the journal Nature Materials reported a new technology that can temporarily increase skin elasticity and reduce wrinkles, essentially giving skin a “shape-wear” boost.
As skin ages, it loses its natural elasticity and begins to sag, leading to the appearance of pores, eye bags, crow’s feet, and wrinkles. To combat the effects of aging, doctors use various medical aesthetics treatments, such as fillers, Botox, laser therapy, and radiofrequency. However, achieving results overnight is not possible. Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have reported a skin-elasticity material that can be applied to the skin to instantly tighten and smooth wrinkles and eye bags. This “magical” material is like putting on a temporary “shape-wear” for your skin, providing a quick solution to skin elasticity problems for up to 16 hours. When the film is removed, the magic disappears.
So how is this “shape-wear” film created? The process is a chemical marvel. To apply the “shape-wear,” two procedures are needed. First, a gel-like polysiloxane-based material is applied to the skin’s surface. Next, another gel-like material containing a specific platinum catalyst is added. The platinum catalyst catalyzes a hydrosilylation reaction, which adds the silicon compound to the carbon double bond. This process allows the polymer molecules to cross-link and form a network, ultimately creating a thin and elastic film on the skin.
The film’s thickness is only 40-70 microns, making it nearly invisible on the skin. The mechanical properties of this material can match natural skin better, and it can promote relaxed skin to regain elasticity. The material can withstand up to 250% stretch, maintaining its elasticity even after multiple stretches, without creating a very tight or rigid sensation.
This “shape-wear” film can be used for other medical purposes besides a “temporary facelift.” It can also prevent water loss and be used to treat skin problems such as eczema. It could even replace thick, oily ointments. Although a “temporary facelift” might be attractive, it is still best to maintain optimal skin health regularly.
*Betty Yu et al. An elastic second skin. Nature Materials. May 2016