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Formula Anatomy Deciphered: Anti-wrinkle Skin Care

Figures

  • Figure 1. Bottega Verde Mielexpertise Intense Antiaging Eye Contour Cream

    Figure 1. Bottega Verde Mielexpertise Intense Antiaging Eye Contour Cream

    The cream shown is described as an intensive, fast-absorbing, antiaging eye contour cream featuring a re-densifying, anti-wrinkle formula enriched with the company’s patented ingredients Cuore di Miele (honey essence) and Pluridefence, which are claimed to have revitalizing, antioxidant and firming effects to leave skin soft and radiant and protect against pollution.

    Bottega Verde Mielexpertise Intense Antiaging Eye Contour Cream
  • Figure 2. Garnier Nutritioniste Ultra-Lift Anti-Wrinkle Firming Eye Cream

    Figure 2. Garnier Nutritioniste Ultra-Lift Anti-Wrinkle Firming Eye Cream

    This eye cream is formulated with a blend of natural linoleic acid from safflower with retinyl acetate to lift the look of wrinkles; rice protein to fortify skin’s structure; and argan extract to make skin look firmer.

    Garnier Nutritioniste Ultra-Lift Anti-Wrinkle Firming Eye Cream
  • Figure 3. Reviva Labs Collagen-Fibre Eye Pads with Myoxinol

    Figure 3. Reviva Labs Collagen-Fibre Eye Pads with Myoxinol

    These eye pads are said to contain 100% pure, freeze- dried collagen, which is reported to impart quick, Botox-like benefits to skin; instantly hydrate to help diminish wrinkles, bags, puffiness or dark circles; and relax the under-eye tissue to aid anti-wrinkle action.

    Reviva Labs Collagen-Fibre Eye Pads with Myoxinol

Tables

  • Table 1. Bottega Verde Mielexpertise Intense Antiaging Eye Contour Cream

    Table 1. Bottega Verde Mielexpertise Intense Antiaging Eye Contour Cream

    This cream is described as an intensive, fast-absorbing, antiaging eye contour cream featuring a re-densifying, anti-wrinkle formula enriched with the company’s patented ingredients Cuore di Miele (honey essence) and Pluridefence, which are claimed to have revitalizing, antioxidant and firming effects to leave skin soft and radiant and protect against pollution.

    Bottega Verde Mielexpertise Intense Antiaging Eye Contour Cream
  • Table 2. Garnier Nutritioniste Ultra-Lift Anti-Wrinkle Firming Eye Cream

    Table 2. Garnier Nutritioniste Ultra-Lift Anti-Wrinkle Firming Eye Cream

    This eye cream is formulated with a blend of natural linoleic acid from safflower with retinyl acetate to lift the look of wrinkles; rice protein to fortify skin’s structure; and argan extract to make skin look firmer.

    Garnier Nutritioniste Ultra-Lift Anti-Wrinkle Firming Eye Cream
  • Table 3. Reviva Labs Collagen-Fibre Eye Pads with Myoxinol

    Table 3. Reviva Labs Collagen-Fibre Eye Pads with Myoxinol

    These eye pads are said to contain 100% pure, freeze- dried collagen, which is reported to impart quick, Botox-like benefits to skin; instantly hydrate to help diminish wrinkles, bags, puffiness or dark circles; and relax the under-eye tissue to aid anti-wrinkle action.

    Table 3. Reviva Labs Collagen-Fibre Eye Pads with Myoxinol
By: Eric Abrutyn, TPC2 Advisors Ltd.
Posted: February 3, 2011, from the February 2011 issue of Cosmetics & Toiletries.

For consumers, antiaging has many definitions and is a marketing position for a variety of topical personal care products. Within the antiaging category are a number of consumer products claiming to prevent or treat facial wrinkling. As is generally known, wrinkles occur as skin ages and are associated with causes that are genetic and environmental. For example, changes such as a decrease in both the number of fibroblasts and biosynthetic changes of biomolecules, based on large extra-cellular matrix molecular weight, as well as dermis atrophy are accentuated in the dermis.

In addition, external assault especially from sun exposure accelerates facial wrinkling. Therefore, skin aging can be attributed to both physiological skin changes and photodegradation. Moisture and collagen content and the immune responsiveness of skin are the main factors causing wrinkle formation. This is based on a decrease in the diameter or decomposition of collagen and elastin, along with the expansion of blood vessels. In the end, the mechanical strength and viscoelastic properties of the dermis are compromised, allowing skin to stretch under the influence of its own weight.

To address to this change, consumers seek products that make them look younger by toning the skin or visually hiding negative attributes. To such an end, active cosmetic ingredients have been developed to fight the loss of skin tone by simultaneously lifting and smoothing the skin and improving its viscoelastic properties. However, anti-wrinkle products that inspire such physiological changes and tout such benefits raise questions as to whether they are truly cosmetics or are more pharmaceutical in nature.

It is unfortunately difficult to turn back the clock on the age-related deterioration of skin physiology but three topical approaches can impart antiaging effects via other means: by covering or filling in wrinkles for smoother looking and feeling skin; by tightening the skin via astringent effects; and by physiologically improving the skin’s own repair mechanisms. Current studies in the area of genomics and DNA and cellular repair support this latter approach, although it acts on drug-related mechanisms; such products are therefore labeled cosmeceuticals.

Key Components

Many ingredients claim to improve the appearance of or to treat and repair wrinkles. The current trend is to develop natural botanical ingredients and polypeptides that provide antiaging properties at low and effective levels. It would be difficult to list all the possible natural ingredients that claim some type of antiaging effect without missing some, so one may generalize by simply stating that crucial to an antiaging treatment is the delivery of a natural or synthetic ingredient that provides the following key properties: antioxidation to counteract free radical formation; anti-inflammation to calm the skin and reduce irritation; exfoliation through raw materials such as alpha hydroxyl acids (AHA); sun protection, specifically through sunscreen agents that absorb or block UVA; skin softening, to support the elasticity and/or firming of skin; and pore- and crease-filling capabilities, so that particles fit within skin crevices and appear as a part of the skin.