CoffeeBerry extracts set to impact Skin Care market

CoffeeBerry will be recognized for the first time as a powerful antioxidant for the thriving skin-care market at The American Academy of Dermatology's annual meeting in February.

A skin cream, called Revale Skin, will be the first in a succession of cosmetic products to include the ingredient with a cleanser, day cream, and a night cream also in production.

The range is due to retail in dermatologists and plastic surgeons offices from between $40 to $100.

Insiders are predicting the ingredient to be the next big thing in the thriving cosmetics industry due to powerful antioxidants properties. The introduction of the ingredient into the topical skin care products is revolutionary for the category as it is the first time the ingredient has been used outside of the food products and dietary supplements markets.

In 2005 Euromonitor International estimated that the total market for skin care products was valued at $38.3 billion globally, a figure that is second only to the hair care sector in size. It also confirmed that global sales of anti-ageing products are now worth $9.8bn, a 108.5 per cent increase since 1997.

The polyphenol anti-oxidants contained within the ingredient are believed to prevent cellular damage in skin when applied externally. The CoffeeBerry anti-oxidant content is also thought to be three times greater than that of green tea, a market leading antioxidant in skin-care products.

A test carried out on women aged 35 to 60 in an independent laboratory over three weeks proved the extract to also be more beneficial on wrinkles, dry skin and discoloration.

According to Allure Magazine 'The texture and tone of the skin treated with CoffeeBerry extract showed 46 per cent improvement in fine lines and wrinkles, 64 per cent in overall skin smoothness, and 79 per cent in skin hydration.'

Research reports that Coffeeberries, the outer layer of the coffee fruit research, has 400 mg of concentrate that has a radical scavenging activity equal to 9.6 grams of fresh blueberries, 6.2 grams of strawberries, or 4.9 grams of raspberries.

This potent anti-radical power has not been commercially available previously because the fruit rapidly perishes, which is why only the bitter seed has been commercially exploited.

CoffeeBerry contains five of eight rare and essential sugars called monosaccharides, with research indicating that these are essential for the proper functioning of various biological systems.

Almost half of the dry weight of the concentrate is made up of polysaccharides, such as mannans and arabinoglactan. Conventional roasting destroys these nutrients, so they are not found in traditional brewed coffee.

The food industry has been aware of the potential benefits of the ingredient for some time. An exclusive agreement between VDF Futureceuticals and Vermont-based New Chapter, was signed at the end of March to bring the CoffeeBerry 2500 Whole Coffee Fruit Concentrate to the North American natural products channel.

Paul Schulick, Founder and CEO of New Chapter, said that the concentrate would become a core part of the company's nutritional program.

"CoffeeBerry is a complex whole-food antioxidant with extraordinary ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbent Capacity) values, but it is so much more than just the finest fruit antioxidant. It delivers many of the essential glyconutrients, or essential sugars, necessary to support multiple physiological processes," he said.