Silicium et Beauté : l'élément que votre peau réclame après 35 ans

Why your skin and hair are crying out for silicon

— and why they no longer get enough of it

The forgotten trace element that keeps your beauty standing tall

There is a paradox that few people know about: the second most abundant element on Earth after oxygen is also the one your body lacks more and more as the years go by. That element is silicon.

Present in your body from foetal life, silicon is the silent architect of everything that gives your skin its firmness, your hair its shine and your nails their strength. Without it, the three fundamental proteins of your beauty — collagen, elastin and keratin — cannot be properly synthesised.

And here is the problem: from the age of 30-35, your silicon reserves begin to melt away. And your body has lost the ability to produce it. All the silicon you have must come from outside — through food or supplementation.

Silicon, the conductor of collagen

Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body. On its own it accounts for nearly 30% of all your proteins. It is what gives skin its resistance and structure, tendons their strength and blood vessels their suppleness.

Now silicon plays a direct and demonstrated role in collagen synthesis. It is involved in activating prolyl hydroxylase, the key enzyme that converts proline into hydroxyproline — an amino acid essential to collagen's triple-helix structure. Without enough silicon, this production chain slows down.

Animal-model studies have shown that a silicon deficiency reduces collagen production in healing areas, accompanied by a marked slowing of the tissue repair process. The body simply cannot efficiently rebuild its tissues without a sufficient supply of silicon.

Even more fascinating: recent research has shown that organic silicon is able to bind directly to long collagen chains — notably marine collagen — and support their action. Silicon does not merely help make collagen: it strengthens the collagen that already exists.

What science says about the skin

In 2005, Professor Barel published the results of a clinical study demonstrating the effects of oral intake of bioavailable silicon on the quality of skin, nails and hair. The participants who received silicon supplementation showed a measurable improvement in skin elasticity and hydration compared with the placebo group.

These observations make sense when you know that silicon is a structural component of connective tissue — that supporting network found literally everywhere in the body. It is the “cement” between cells, the one that maintains the architecture of the skin, vascular walls and cartilage. When this cement becomes depleted in silicon, the signs are visible: loss of firmness, appearance of wrinkles, dry skin, slackening of tissues.

Thicker, stronger, shinier hair

Keratin — the fibrous protein that makes up the structure of your hair — also depends on silicon for its synthesis. When silicon runs short, the hair fibre becomes thinner, more fragile and loses its shine. Hair becomes brittle, falls out more easily and grows back more slowly.

A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study carried out on 48 women with fine hair produced very telling results. For 9 months, the participants received 10 mg a day of bioavailable silicon or a placebo. The supplemented group showed a significant increase in hair thickness and elasticity.

This result is not surprising once you understand silicon's triple mechanism of action on the hair:

1. Keratin synthesis
Silicon is a cofactor in keratin production. The more bioavailable silicon your body has, the better it can build strong, well-structured hair fibres.

2. Stimulation of scalp collagen
The hair bulb is wrapped in a sheath of connective tissue rich in collagen. The quality of this “cradle” directly determines the health of the hair growing in it. A scalp well nourished with silicon produces more vigorous hair.

3. Circulation and nourishment of the follicle
Silicon contributes to the suppleness of vascular walls, thus promoting better blood supply to the scalp. A better-nourished follicle produces a stronger hair.

Nails that no longer break

Nails share the same basic protein as hair — keratin — and follow the same logic. A sufficient intake of silicon strengthens their structure, reduces their fragility and speeds up their growth. Professor Barel's study also showed an improvement in nail quality in the supplemented group.

If your nails split, develop ridges or break easily, it is often a sign that your body is short of silicon — a warning signal that the body sends well before the effects become visible on the skin or hair.

Why not all silicon is equal

This is a crucial point that many consumers overlook. Silicon exists in several forms, and their bioavailability varies considerably:

MMST (monomethylsilanetriol) is the most bioavailable form. Its unique molecular structure — a carbon atom bonded to the silicon — gives it an amphiphilic character: it travels as well in water as in fats. It can thus cross cell membranes and reach directly the tissues that need it.

EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority) confirmed the safety of MMST as a food ingredient in 2016, and a study published in Nutrition & Metabolism (2013) showed that it does indeed increase the body pool of silicon in humans after only 4 weeks of supplementation.

Natural loss: an inevitable but compensable process

Here is what happens in your body over time:

At birth: your body holds its maximum reserve of silicon. The foetal brain is particularly rich in it — this is no coincidence.

From 0 to 30 years: silicon is gradually used for bone growth, tissue maturation and cell renewal. Your reserves hold up.

After 35: the decline accelerates. Your body loses its ability to efficiently retain dietary silicon. Collagen production slows by about 1 to 1.5% per year. The first signs appear: more marked wrinkles, finer hair, more brittle nails, less supple joints.

After 50: reserves are considerably depleted. The modern diet, refined and processed, no longer provides sufficient quantities. Supplementation then becomes a logical and relevant choice.

The Géomer approach: silicon and holistic cosmetics

At Laboratoire Géomer, we integrated organic silicon into our range long before it became a fashionable topic. Our approach, founded on the ARK Quantique Process® and Traditional Chinese Medicine, regards silicon as a fundamental element of the balance between inside and outside.

For this is the whole Géomer philosophy: visible beauty is the reflection of an inner balance. Caring for the skin without nourishing the connective tissue that supports it is like painting a façade without strengthening the foundations.

In practice: the silicon beauty protocol

To make the most of silicon's benefits for your skin, hair and nails, we recommend an “In & Out” approach:

IN (from within): A course of oral organic silicon, ideally over 3 months, to be repeated at each change of season. Silicon taken orally acts in depth on the synthesis of collagen, elastin and keratin throughout the body.

OUT (from outside): The use of hair care products containing silicon (Shampoing G5, Baume Capillaire) and facial care suited to your skin type to complement the internal action.

The right daily habit: Keep yourself sufficiently hydrated — water is the vehicle of silicon in the body. And favour natural sources in your diet: green beans, wholegrain cereals, lentils, almonds, bananas, parsley, garlic.

Laboratoire Géomer makes no medical claims. The information in this article is provided for educational purposes and in no way replaces the advice of a healthcare professional.

Scientific references:

• Barel A. et al. (2005). Effect of oral intake of choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid on skin, nails and hair in women with photodamaged skin. Archives of Dermatological Research, 297, 147–153.
• Wickett R. et al. (2007). Effect of oral intake of choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid on hair tensile strength and morphology in women with fine hair. Archives of Dermatological Research, 299, 499–505.
• Jugdaohsingh R. et al. (2013). The silicon supplement 'Monomethylsilanetriol' is safe and increases the body pool of silicon. Nutrition & Metabolism, 10, 37.
• EFSA (2016). Safety of organic silicon (MMST) as a novel food ingredient. EFSA Journal, 14(4), 4436.
• Carlisle E.M. (1972). Silicon: An essential element for the chick. Science, 178(4061), 619–621.
• Reffitt D.M. et al. (2003). Orthosilicic acid stimulates collagen type I synthesis. Bone, 32(2), 127–135.
• Seaborn C.D. & Nielsen F.H. (2002). Silicon deprivation decreases collagen formation in wounds and bone. Biological Trace Element Research, 89(3), 251–261.