The 2011 Frost & Sullivan Europe New Product Innovation Award in Dermatological Active Ingredients was presented to Mibelle Biochemistry for its cell protecting factor, SunActin.
As well as providing protection the SunActin also slows down the photo-ageing process, providing an added value to UV filters in sun care products, Dr Fred Zülli, business unit manager explained to CosmeticsDesign-Europe.com.
“The SunActin is specifically designed for sun care products and can add value to the products, as well as protection, the active ingredient can also neutralise the negative effects of filters on the skin.”
Confusion over sunscreen benefits
Sometimes with sunscreens, although they may have high SPF, they may also create more free radicals on the skin causing photo-ageing.
Zülli explained that the main goal associated with sunscreen is to prevent sunburn, however there is lso the ageing process to consider, and this is not something the consumer knows about.
“It can be a misleading safety. Because you use a high SPF sunscreen consumers may think they can stay in the sun all day, however even if the skin does not burn, there is damage to the skin that the user may not be aware of – this is where the SunActin can complement filters in sun care products.”
The ingredient is set to make strong gains as awareness about the need for sun protection and early prevention of ageing among both male and female populations rises. Furthermore, market trends are moving towards natural-derived product platforms.
Award winner
And it is with this ingredient that the company were awarded the Frost & Sullivan prize which will be presented at the end of the month.
"SunActin is an active ingredient designed to complement sun care products, as it can counteract the negative effects of UVA and UVB radiation as well as the negative side effects of sunscreens, while additionally protecting the skin," said Frost & Sullivan research analyst Vin Nee.
SunActin is derived from a combination of organic sunflower sprouts and a nanoemulsion of natural tocopherol. The sunflower shoot extract is carefully purified to be compatible with the nanoemulsion to ensure the product's stability and optimal delivery of the active ingredients to the skin structure.
"Strategic product positioning in accordance with the company's motto of 'inspired by nature- realized by science' has enabled Mibelle Biochemistry to forge a new path in the field of dermatological active ingredients," concludes Nee. "Such efforts, as exemplified by SunActin, make Mibelle Biochemistry an obvious choice for this Frost & Sullivan accolade."
SunActin's anti-ageing property works by energizing the skin cells and delaying ageing mechanisms. At the same time, it exerts skin protection in the sunscreen by radical scavenging properties and by enhancing SPF levels.