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Like a silk scarf, b-silk™ protein forms a lightweight, breathable barrier that locks restorative ingredients in and locks environmental stressors out.
At Eighteen B, we believe that protecting the skin barrier is essential to maintaining healthy skin. B-silk™ protein, our proprietary key ingredient, was designed to support the skin’s natural barrier. Here’s how b-silk™ protein works and why it matters.
Eighteen B harnesses the power of silk – one of the strongest materials in the natural world – to reinforce skin’s natural barrier. Engineered in a patented process by Lindsay Wray, PhD, b-silk™ protein creates a lightweight, breathable barrier that delivers nourishing ingredients to the skin and locks environmental stressors out for skin that looks healthy and radiant.
Why silk?
Imagine a piece of silk. It’s soft, lustrous, and lightweight. Silk proteins are also soft and silky, but they’re incredibly strong – stronger than steel and nearly as tough as Kevlar. Due to this strength and biocompatibility, silk is used in wound healing, sutures, and surgical scaffolds.
What is b-silk™ protein?
After a decade of research, our Chief Science Officer, Lindsay Wray, PhD, engineered b-silk™ protein to mimic natural silk protein.
When natural silk proteins are used in skincare products, they’re typically hydrolyzed, or cut into small pieces, which compromises their molecular structure. B-silk™ protein molecules remain intact, allowing them to help smaller molecules – like the hydrating components in our formulations – work more efficiently.
B-silk™ protein is made through a patented fermentation process using yeast, water, sugar, and salt. That means it’s vegan, cruelty-free, and sustainable.
How does b-silk™ protein work?
Like a silk scarf, b-silk™ protein forms a lightweight, breathable barrier that locks restorative ingredients in and locks environmental stressors out. In short, it helps support your natural skin barrier.
Support your skin barrier. Shop Eighteen B.
Why is protecting the skin barrier so important? The skin barrier is the outermost layers of the epidermis, also known as the stratum corneum. If you imagine the stratum corneum as a brick wall, the “bricks” are corneocytes – which produce Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF) to stay hydrated – and the “mortar” is naturally produced lipids like Cholesterol and Ceramides. This “brick wall” is the primary barrier between your skin and the world. An unhealthy skin barrier can lead to dryness, dullness, and irritation.
When applied, our b-silk™ protein forms a long-lasting barrier to support your natural barrier function. It acts as a vital defense against environmental stressors as well as a moisture depot, delivering immediate and sustained hydration throughout the day.
By replenishing your vital barrier function, b-silk™ protein is clinically shown to improve texture and smoothness for skin that looks firm, youthful, and healthy.
Scientifically designed, scientifically tested.
B-silk™ protein is clinically shown to improve skin’s appearance in as little as four weeks. With continued use, results keep getting better.
Do you have questions? Comments? Topics you want us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at thelab@eighteenb.com.
