The new study comes at a time when skin barrier function in ageing has become a key focus not just from damaging UV rays, but also from the effect pollution is having on skin complexion.
A report by the European Commission earlier this year noted that nine out of 10 city dwellers are exposed to highly polluted air and the anti-pollution trend is one that is affecting markets globally, with the recent in-cosmetics Asia event proving this.
Skin barrier
Typical signs of mature skin such as decreased elasticity, reduced firmness and the formation of wrinkles are strongly linked to a weakness in the skin barrier caused by the impaired synthesis of epidermal lipids.
Rahn’s new active was specifically developed to regenerate the perturbed barrier of mature skin and to provide new resistance.
The team carried out a new double-blind, placebo-controlled and randomised in-vivo study which reveals that Reforcyl leads to enhanced cellular cohesion of the stratum corneum and provides substantial barrier repair after skin damage caused by tape stripping.
“We believe that this remarkable improvement in barrier strength is mainly due to Reforcyl’s ability to activate epidermal lipid synthesis,” says the ingredient supplier.
Reforcyl
From the studies, Reforcyl showed a seven-fold efficacy against the appearance of mature skin. Hydration, firmness, wrinkle depth, elasticity, skin smoothness, barrier strength and regeneration are all markedly improved.
The active ingredient is based on two plants, the first of which is Gynostemma pentaphyllum from the Far East, which activates LXR, a skin receptor involved in the synthesis of epidermal lipids.
The second is a Mediterranean plant called Cistus incanus which strengthens the reduced anti-oxidative defence system found in mature skin to neutralise reactive oxygen species which further damage the skin barrier.