BASF’s cosmetic actives promise to ‘Photoshop’ the face
According to the company, the ingredients perfect the skin surface and have a ‘Photoshop’ effect.
Mat-XS Clinical is the company’s attempt to target the oily skin market that it believes is saturated with ineffective ingredients.
According to BASF, the majority of these ingredients attempt to alter the levels of a testosterone derivative dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by inhibiting the enzyme 5 alpha-reductase. DHT is thought to be involved in the hormonal control of sebum secretion.
Most skin perfecting ingredients 'ineffective'
However, the company believes the majority of these ingredients are ineffective as they don’t target the 5 alpha-reductase enzyme which is specific to the skin.
Mat-XS Clinical, a synthetic molecule called sarcosine, inhibits 5 alpha-reductase type 1, which is specific to the skin, claims the company.
After a four week study on 90 individuals BASF claims that ‘pores are tighter, shine is reduced, and the complexion is increasingly even’.
Skin shine and brightness
The second of the new ingredients, Mat-XS Bright, turns shine into brightness, according to the company.
An extract of Java tea, this ingredient similarly inhibits 5 alpha-reductase type 1 as well as tightening the pores.
Reducing pore size and sebum production means that light can be reflected off the skin in a more even manner, leading to more radiant and luminous skin, according to BASF.
“BASF Beauty Care Solutions not only provides significant and rapid effectiveness in regulating sebum secretion and refining the skin’s texture, it also fulfils new claims on light and improvement for oily skin, leaving it bright and radiant,” said general manager Frank Freiler.
