A 2018 independent study of women 40-56 years old in the United States found that carob in skincare formulations provides significant improvements to wrinkles and fine lines.
What is carob?
Carob is a plant native to the eastern Mediterranean region, and is also known as St John’s Bread or locust bean. Carob is most well-known today for its use as a chocolate substitute.
The carob plant is rich is Vitamins A,B and E, and important minerals such as magnesium, calcium, iron and potassium.
A sustainable, eco-friendly and pesticide-free botanical ingredient
Unlike other botanical extracts, carob is affected by few pests. This means that it is easy to source and grow carob that is untreated with pesticides.
Carob is also drought-resistant, surviving drought conditions for years. For eco-conscious consumers seeking sustainable cosmetics, carob provides a solution that is less water-intensive than other plant-based ingredients.
Scientific studies suggest…
- Carob seed extract can stimulate the repair and regeneration of collagen. Over two weeks, carob seed extract proved to boost Collagens I, III and V, which are essential for proper collagen production and skin firming.(1)
- Carob seed extract in a daily-use moisturiser significantly improved the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles after 12 weeks of use, improving the size of wrinkles up to 0.41-0.47mm in width.(2)
- Carob extract consistently enhanced skin regeneration and wound healing, suggesting uses for post-peel and post-laser cosmetic treatments. (3)
Carob in skincare and cosmetics formulations, especially when combined with traditional and proven ingredients such as niacinamide, peptides and nourishing plant oils, can offer remarkable results not yet harnessed in many cosmetics lines. If you are looking for an exciting new offering, carob may be the eco-friendly, sustainable and vegan solution.
(1) Lisa Mullins, BS, Procter & Gamble; Rosemarie Osborne, PhD, Procter & Gamble; Charlie Bascom, PhD, Procter & Gamble; Nicola Fultard, PhD, University of Durham; Stefan Przyborski, PhD, University of Durham; Mathilde Roger, PhD, University of Durham. (2018) ‘In vitro skin biomarker responses to carob extract’. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 79(3), Supplement 1, AB165.
(2) Michael Flagler, PhD, Procter & Gamble; Rosemarie Osborne, PhD, Procter & Gamble; Lisa Mullins, BS, Procter & Gamble; Brian d’Alessandro, PhD, Canfield Scientific; Makio Tamura, PhD, Procter & Gamble; Matt Ehrman, BS, Procter & Gamble; Anna Dowdy, MS, Procter & Gamble; Kristin Ellis, PhD, Procter & Gamble. (2018) ‘In vivo efficany of a cosmetic skin care product containing carob extract’. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 79(3), Supplement 1, AB165.
(3) Michelle Hare, BS, Procter & Gamble; Michael Flager, PhD, Procter and & Gamble; Jeff Henry, MS, Procter & Gamble. (2017) ‘Impact of carob extract on epidermal regeneration processes and cellular behaviour in vitro’. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 76(6), Supplement 1, AB403.
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