BASF's VitaGuard A Encapsulation Tech 'Seals the Deal' on Retinol Stability, Safety and Efficacy

woman mirror applying eye area lotion smiling
Encapsulation limits the direct contact of retinol with the skin, lowering the risk of irritation typically associated with retinol use.
Image by VadimGuzhva at Adobe Stock

Retinol is renowned for its anti-aging skin care benefits — as well as its potential for skin irritation and instability in formulations. BASF developed its VitaGuard A solid lipid encapsulation technology to address these and other issues, stabilizing retinol and enhancing its functionality.

Key Functions and Benefits of VitaGuard A

Per BASF, VitaGuard A (INCI: Water (Aqua) (and) Cetyl Palmitate (and) Glycerin (and) Ceteareth-12 (and) Polysorbate 20 (and) Retinol (and) Glyceryl Stearate (and) Pentylene Glycol (and) Ceteareth-20 (and) Cetearyl Alcohol) provides several benefits, including the following.

  • Enhanced stability: By encapsulating free retinol, VitaGuard A prevents its degradation due to exposure to light and air, ensuring the active ingredient remains potent in formulations. 
  • Reduced irritation: Encapsulation limits the direct contact of retinol with the skin, lowering the risk of irritation typically associated with retinol use. 
  • Improved skin bioavailability: The encapsulation technology increases the bioavailability of retinol, enhancing its absorption and effectiveness in cosmetic applications.  

Clinically Proven Results  

According to BASF, in a randomized, double-blind study evaluating a 2% VitaGuard A cream (equivalent to 0.1% retinol) in Asian volunteers for its anti-aging effects, the active cream demonstrated directionally better performance compared with non-encapsulated retinol at the same concentration.

Effects included:

  • Wrinkle reduction: A 37% decrease in forehead wrinkle appearance after eight weeks (< 0.01), compared to baseline; 
  • Increased skin elasticity: A 16% improvement in elasticity (< 0.001), versus baseline; and
  • Evenness of skin tone: A 15% enhancement in skin tone uniformity (< 0.001), compared with baseline.  

Meeting the Need for Safety and Efficacy

VitaGuard A can therefore provide formulators with a stabilized and effective retinol solution, enabling the development of advanced anti-aging cosmetics to meet consumer demand. Per BASF, by addressing core challenges in retinol formulation while delivering clinical efficacy, VitaGuard A sets a new standard for retinol-based products in the personal care industry.  

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