The cosmeceutical market has experienced great growth in 2011, specifically when it comes to developing ingredients for anti-ageing products. Cosmeceuticals are the combination of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals and applies to products that are applied topically. It refers to cosmetic products that have biologically active ingredients that are said to have medical or drug-like benefits. Here are the brands that brought something new to the shelves in 2011and the benefits they bring.
Cosima
A key ingredient in Cosima’s Flawless Cream is Myoxinol – Nature’s Botox”, a natural tightening and lifting alternative to Botox. Myoxinal is a marine extract with firming properties that also helps to reduce dark circles and vein imperfections.
DermaQuest Skin Therapy Niacinamide Youth Serum illuminates and improves the skin’s immune function leading to protected skin, acne prevention and improved skin tone and texture. Vitamin B (Niacinamide) fades hyperpigmentation, treats acne and improves skin barrier function. It provides antioxidant properties for the skin and exhibits anti-inflammatory properties.
DMK skin care system works with the skin and uses amino acids, other proteins, enzymes and fractioned oils from plants to create an environment in which skin can thrive. The company’s is an immuno-boosting serum formulated for everything from acne to burns to premature ageing and helps with healing and skin regeneration. It is a transdermal serum with Vitamin B and C and the most potent beta-glucan B-6 yeast wall extract.
emerginC
emerginC has a comprehensive line of active, advanced cosmeceutical products and professional treatments that deliver rapid, visible results for all skin types. The brand’s vitamin C serum is a high concentration vitamin C liquid gel serum that fights free-radical damage, antioxidant, helps in the production of collagen, improves skin tone and texture, calming, fights sun damage and improves pigmentation problems.
Environ creates products with the highest permissible levels of Vitamin A in cosmetics. While Vitamin A is found in many creams, Environ uses the derivates of Retinyl in the ester form called Retinyl palmitate and Retinyl acetate. Other creams may contain these types of Vitamin A, however, Environ utilises them in high concentrations that compare with the highest strengths of retinoic acid. The skin cells easily convert Retinyl palmitate into retinoic acid, which then expresses all its benefits on the DNA of the cells. Vitamin A helps prevent and reverse established photo-ageing and improves hydration. The brand's is very active with high levels of Vitamin A.
O Cosmedics
O Cosmedics blends medical grade ingredients and cosmetic science with organic ingredients. It’s Potent Retinol Serum has 100 per cent pure, bioactive retinol in micro-encapsulation technology that dramatically reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, promotes a firmer more elastic skin texture and evens out skin tone. V8 peptide complex leaves skin calm, super hydrated and renewed.
John Plunkett anti-ageing cosmeceuticals use combinations of proven active ingredients to produce synergistic results. The company’s Eventone Fine Line Eraser uses active ingredient Snowflake to reduce fine lines and wrinkles in a similar way to argireline or injected botox. In vitro studies found Snowflake helps block the contractions that cause skin creases, resulting in fewer lines and a reduction in the appearance of existing lines.
PRIORI’s includes the ingredient DNA Enzyme Complex which works by mimicking the bodies’ DNA repair enzymes to boost their effect and help reverse the damage to DNA caused by free radicals. This in turn leads to diminished fine lines, wrinkles and uneven skin pigmentation. DNA Enzyme Complex is unique as it utilises three different natural liposome encapsulated DNA repair enzymes from botanical and microbial sources to help repair cellular damage.
Over the last five years, the SkinCeuticals scientific team have discovered there are four antioxidants that get into the skin and effectively supplement its natural antioxidant reservoir. These include L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C), Alpha-Tocopherol (Vitamin C), Ferulic acid and Phloretin. Phloretin CF Gel and AOX+ Eye Gel use Phloretin, Vitamin C and Ferulic Acid to accelerate cell turnover and stimulate collagen synthesis to boost skin’s structure for a firmer, brighter complexion.
SkinMedica offers a gel with the highest concentration of growth factors on the market. The TNS Recovery Complex potent solution is clinically proven to effectively increase collagen production, enhance skin tone and texture as well as improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It helps strengthen the skin’s natural ability to regenerate itself to help improve the appearance of age spots in addition to making skin firmer and resilient.
Skin Physics
Skin Physics Cellugen Skincare Range utilises botanical ingredients in a high technology way to slow down the aging process. It features the apple stem cell extract Malus Domestica, which stimulates the growth of new human stem cells and the skin’s natural renewal process, aids natural collagen and elastin regeneration and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Skinstitut
Skinstitut’s hero product is the Glycolic Scrub which helps provide controlled skin exfoliation, assists in skin renewal and leaves skin looking and feeling refreshed and clean. The key ingredient is glycolic acid – a chemical exfoliant that enhances epidermal shedding and increases cell turnover.
The brand’s new Ultra Calming Treatment Cream contains a soothing blend of ingredients to actively calm irritated or inflamed skin and for post-treatment care. Key ingredients include: Allantoin – potent healing and soothing agent for irritated skin; stimulates cell regeneration, Panthenol – humectant, emollient and moisturiser and Vital ET – for rapid reduction of redness and inflammation.