How do you separate clever marketing from fact? How does one navigate the daunting number of elixirs on the market promising to turn back the clock on your skin? The answer is Nobel Award-winning science.
In early 2000, Icelandic stem-cell scientists used *award-winning science to develop a platform to produce human growth factors – or cellular activators, as they are known in Australia – by bio-engineering a plant-based replica of human protein.
The northern scientists discovered that these cellular messengers were essential to maintaining healthy skin. In 2008 scientists introduced the growth factors to the cosmetics industry and received a positive response.
However, the scientists were concerned that the industry needed more time to be ready for this skin-rejuvenating discovery and branched out independently. Their primary worry was that cosmetics manufacturers would add growth factors to their existing formulas. This would destroy the activity of the growth factors, rendering the innovation null and void.
Since then, however, the cosmetics industry has caught up.
Epidermal growth factors/cellular activators
Human growth factors are proteins secreted by cells that make up the epidermis and dermis. They regulate the growth and multiplication of cells and play an essential role in maintaining the structure and function of healthy skin.
They work by stimulating pathways that repair and regenerate skin tissue and promote collagen formation.
Cosmeceuticals
Topical skincare that contains growth factors provides both cosmetic and therapeutic benefits. When they have a balanced mixture of growth factors and other proteins, cosmeceuticals reverse the signs and symptoms of skin ageing: both intrinsic ageing (natural ageing process) and extrinsic ageing (environmental).
Controlled clinical studies have found that skincare containing growth factors:
- Reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines
- It Evens out pigmentation and improves the appearance of age spots
- Decreases skin roughness, and
- Improves skin elasticity and texture.
Superrox-C reduces the appearance of wrinkles and increases skin radiance, glossiness and luminosity.
Lipolight OAP/PVA is a luminescent ingredient that emits and diffuses visible light to reduce skin imperfections' appearance dramatically.
Curcylic 40 acts as an anti-acne, anti-aging, repairing and exfoliating agent. It is clear, non-irritating, water-soluble and cold-processable. It does not form precipitation, crystallization or encapsulation and offers ease of use and handling. It reduces imperfections, hyper-pigmentation, photo-aging and the appearance of previous breakouts. It removes dead skin cells, opens up pores and minimizes fine lines & wrinkles by restoring moisture.
More products are available at the Trulux shop. Click here.
However, like most discoveries, not all growth factors are equal. See Part 2 of our The Science behind beauty blog.
*(The 1986 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to American biochemist Stanley Cohen for discovering the epidermal growth factor. This was the first of many growth-regulating signal substances to be discovered and characterized.)
Image courtesy of www.jbioserum.com/