Silver in Cosmetics – Why We Have Always Chosen Microsilver

Silver is one of the oldest known ingredients in skin care. For centuries, it has been valued in natural medicine – especially for its ability to bind unwanted microbes on the skin and help maintain a balanced skin environment. Even today, silver is used in supportive skin care for blemished, sensitive, or imbalanced skin.

What truly matters, however, is not only that silver is used, but in which form.

Silver Is Not All the Same

In cosmetics, different forms of silver are used, and they differ fundamentally from one another. Colloidal silver, nanoscale silver, and microsilver are often confused or treated as identical – even though they must be evaluated very differently from both a regulatory and functional perspective.

Colloidal and Nanoscale Silver

Colloidal silver is often produced using electrolysis. Depending on the process, this can result in very small silver particles, frequently in the nanometer range. This particle size is precisely why nano silver has been critically assessed in cosmetics for years and is subject to strict regulatory restrictions.

The focus here is not silver itself, but the lack of reliable control over particle size and behavior.

Microsilver – Our Approach

At Urban Cosmetice Berlin, we have always worked with pure microsilver. Our microsilver is free from nanosilver and is not produced using electrolysis.

Instead, we rely on a classic, gentle method: pure microsilver is introduced into hydrosols and allowed to rest over a defined period of time. This creates a natural dispersion – without electrolysis, without silver salts, and without aggressive technical processes.

The silver particles we use have an average size of approximately 10 micrometers. This makes them many times larger than nanoparticles. At the same time, they offer a very large active surface area, allowing for an even and controlled release of silver ions – exactly where they are needed: on the skin surface and between skin cells.

Why We Consciously Choose Microsilver

For us, microsilver combines two essential advantages: functional effectiveness and a high level of safety. The particles remain on the skin surface and support a balanced skin environment – without triggering deeper processes within the body.

For this reason, we have consistently chosen microsilver since the founding of Urban Cosmetice Berlin and have consciously decided against electrolytically produced colloidal silver.

Brief Context on the EU Assessment

The current scientific assessment by the European expert committee SCCS (Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety) supports this approach. Microsilver is considered safe and remains on the skin surface.

Recent regulatory discussions at EU level focus on nanoscale forms of silver. Our products, which are based on non-nanoscale microsilver, are not affected and remain fully compliant and marketable.

The full scientific assessment by the European Commission is publicly available here:

Scientific Advice on Silver used in Cosmetic Products (SCCS)

 

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Silver in Cosmetics

Is silver allowed in cosmetics?

Yes. What matters is the form of silver used. Non-nanoscale microsilver is permitted in the EU.

Is microsilver the same as nano silver?

No. Microsilver consists of significantly larger particles and does not fall under the definition of nanomaterials.

Why don’t you use colloidal silver?

Electrolytically produced colloidal silver can contain nanoscale particles. We consciously rely on controlled, pure microsilver.

Does the EU assessment affect your products?

No. Our microsilver products remain safe, compliant, and available without change.

 

Conclusion

In its natural form, silver has been a trusted natural remedy for thousands of years. Its special strength lies not in technical modification, but in its purity. That is why, at Urban Cosmetice Berlin, we rely on unaltered microsilver – clear, controlled, and close to its origin. An ingredient we consciously choose not to give up, because it has proven itself over generations.