The collagen booster, obtained from the leaf sap of the South African medical plant Bulbine frutescens, also targets anti-ageing, lifting, stretch mark reduction, and nail care applications, as well as offering an immediate soothing effect on tattooed skin.
Due to the active substances knipholone and acetylated polymannose, Rahn says the active ingredient recalibrates the equilibrium between the decomposition and reconstruction of dermal structures, thus providing the skin with an extra portion of high quality collagen, which helps maintain healthy skin.
In studying the active’s efficacy, the Swiss ingredient supplier also conducted an in vivo study to test its beneficial effects in the harsh situation of freshly tattooed skin, as this requires specialised care and more people are joining the tattoo trend.
According to Rahn, 38 % of millennials (18 – 29 years old) have a tattoo and it expects this to continue to rise. The one thing the company points out on this trend is that there is an opportunity for daily skin care products addressing tattooed skin; and this is where Liftonin-Xpert can help.
“A specialised daily skin care providing a soothing effect and simultaneously promote the necessary maintenance and strengthening of the dermal network can arrest these premature signs of skin ageing on tattooed skin,” says the ingredients firm.
Getting under the skin
When you get a tattoo, needles loaded with ink are inserted approximately 1-2 mm into the skin. The ink penetrates the epidermis and enters the stratum papillare of the dermis.
The ink particles settle in the collagen matrix and in fibroblasts, and a small proportion are transported away by immune cells.
Over time the ink is transported into ever deeper layers of the dermis, which causes the tattoo increasingly to fade and appear more blurred.
Given the method of tattooing, it comes as no surprise that this induces corresponding inflammation reactions in the skin, often in the form of severe redness and scabbing.
Rahn states that suitable care after being tattooed, which counteracts the formation of scar tissue and also alleviates the inflammation response, can be of great benefit., and its Liftonin-Xpert active has shown its ability to act as a potent skin care ingredient for tattooed skin in testing.
“It immediately soothes the skin after tattooing and creates an environment for a proper incorporation of tattoo ink into the dermis. Due to its dermis promoting capacity, it ensures a tailor made daily skin care for tattooed skin for the long term application throughout the entire life,” says the Swiss supplier.
Other applications the active has been proven for include anti-ageing, lifting, and wrinkle filling, with studies showing 135% improvement of wrinkle appearance and 100% more facial collagen density as compared to placebo.
It has also been shown to reduce stretch marks by 50% in volume and improve appearance, as well as visibly repairing cracked cuticles when applied in nail care.