• Question: how is nano going to affect makeup? will they prevent wrinckles or acne or even change the colour of your skin forever to colours like blue or gold?

    Asked by theo to Adam, Chris, Eleanor, Jessamyn, Sinead on 12 Nov 2013. This question was also asked by ldunne, nsmith.
    • Photo: Christian Wirtz

      Christian Wirtz answered on 12 Nov 2013:

      Hey,

      I have no idea to be honest. This is not something I ever thought about but I don’t think so. Some beauty products already contain nano-particles as they can produce nice colours but I cannot see it preventing wrinkles. Acne is another thing, but I think we’ll have to look to the pharmacists for that.

      What benefit do you hope to gain from blue or gold skin? We need our skin to absorb sunlight for making Vitamin D so I think a reflective golden skin would be highly disadvantageous. Maybe you should stick to body paint or, in an extreme case, tattoos.

    • Photo: Sinead Cullen

      Sinead Cullen answered on 12 Nov 2013:

      Hi Theo,
      There is already some nano-particles in face creams that are anti-wrinkle. The main reason these are used in face cream is because they are so so tiny they are easily rubbed into the skin. I haven’y used any anti-wrinkle cream (just yet) so I am not sure if it works.

      They could possible be used in creams for acne for the same reason that they are easily rubbed into the skin.
      If something was going to change the colour of your skin to blue or gold they would not be allowed put this to market.

      Hope this helps 🙂

    • Photo: Adam Murphy

      Adam Murphy answered on 12 Nov 2013:

      Hey, this is a pretty interesting question,

      I’d like to add to what Chris and Sinead have said.

      There are some places where nanoparticles are in cosmetics already, not just makeup.

      A lot of sunscreens use nanoparticles made of a chemical called zinc oxide. It reflects UV light really well.

      Some deodorants are starting to be made with silver nanoparticles, because silver is really good at stopping bacteria growing

      I don’t think I’d like to permanently change colour. Unless I could do it like a chameleon, and be whatever colour I wanted to freak people out!

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