'Lab grown' diamonds could mean more affordable luxury skin care

13-Apr-2015 - Last updated on 13-Apr-2015 at 15:36 GMT

Diamond encrusted skin care creams are indeed a luxury both for the wearer and their pocket, but now scientists say they can replicate the gem in labs, which suggests cheaper production costs, which may in turn, become more affordable for the consumer.

The rocks are trending as a hot ingredient in the cosmetics sector as an influx of skin care ranges appear on the market featuring white and black diamonds, said to contain properties that boost the supply of collagen.

While diamonds are treasured, like all minerals, they take billions of years to form.

According to asianscientist.com; synthetic diamonds however, produced by artificial methods rather than nature are now being used in drill bits, saw blades and even cosmetics.

One such company it reports to be in the business is Singapore-based IIa Technologies, whose name refers to a diamond grade that has less than one part per million of impurities.

"Pure lab-grown diamonds such as ours can cost 30 to 40 per cent less than mined diamonds,” co-founder Professor Devi Shankar Misra, told the publication.

Skeptics may believe that differences exist, but Misra says their diamonds "have the same carbon-based crystal arrangement as mined diamonds—there is no physical difference."

Utilising white diamond power

French based firm Rene recently created a skin care collection around the inclusion of microfine powder of white diamonds, that it says works to tame and heal common complexion problems.

Rene's creator is said to have been drawn to the diamond due to the fact that it has long stood as a symbol for purity that helps with rebalancing the metabolism, and most recently, because of its new found ability to exfoliate and nourish the skin.

"The 31° Diamond Skincare Collection features a Detox Peeling Gel that's exfoliating and renewing properties solely come from the diamond powder, coupled with the antioxidant rich and soothing qualities of berry extracts and flower essences."

While others are opting for the darker kind

Elsewhere; global company 'Forever Flawless' has made a mission of developing its range around black diamonds, as it says they, unlike their paler counterparts, which reflect and bounce away light, absorb and manipulate it, helping to even out skin tone and improve the complexion.

Also known as carbonado, black diamonds convert normal UV rays, invisible to the naked eye, into blue light, or photoluminescence, which is scattered across the surface of the skin, emitting a subtle blue glow.

This reportedly makes the complexion appear more youthful by helping reduce the appearance of shadows, wrinkles, pigmentation and discoloration.