What’s the Deal With Magnets in Beauty Products?

We’re no strangers to showstopping beauty trends. You know the ones — the 24-karat gold mask, spray-on nail polish, and even snail-slime face cream. Sometimes a new product hits shelves that we literally can’t believe is real — until we try it and wonder why it hasn’t been in our lives before.

When beauty products started hitting the shelves that were “magnetically charged,” we first wondered if it was simply a gimmick. Was Dr. Brandt’s Magnetight Age-Defier mask just more fun to take off with a magnetic device? And were MAC’s Spellbinder Shadows cooler to apply since they were ionized?

We got to work — hard work— testing all of these newfangled, magnetically charged products to see what the fuss was about. Then we called Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, for his professional take on whether or not it was purely “fuss” or if there really is a benefit behind adding a magnetic superpower to beauty products.

Zeichner told us: “Magnets are commonly used in medicine to help promote wound healing and reduce inflammation. With respect to the skin, magnetic masks containing iron particles are now being cosmetically used on the face. The idea is that in applying the mask, then removing it with a magnet, you can create a low-level electromagnetic current, which may have skin-rejuvenating properties. Besides the magnetic properties, the masks are being designed with traditional skin care ingredients as well, which have their own benefits.”

When asked if heavy metals in products could harm the skin if absorbed, Zeichner actually said it was to the contrary. These metals are commonly found in skin care products and anti-aging treatments, and silver is often used to help kill off bacteria. As we know from the aforementioned gold trend, it has anti-inflammatory properties for the skin. And the dermatologist added that copper is “an essential co-factor needed to produce healthy collagen.”

So which magnetically charged products should you get your hands on now? Check out some of our new favorites.

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