Have you ever wondered what is it that make your skincare product work? At #InternationalPlantAppreciationDay we would like to highlight and celebrate the many wonderful active plant ingredients in our products.
Plants produce many chemicals that are biologically active, not just in themselves, but also in other organisms. Some of these chemicals enhance their own survival and are produced in response to the environment the plants live in. Some plants produce chemicals that act as herbicides to inhibit the growth of competing plants, such as the salicylic acid produced by yarrow (found in our Brightening Serum). Other plants produce substances that deter insects and herbivores.
These wonderful active plant compounds provide skin nourishing benefits and support the health, texture, and integrity of the skin. The active plant compounds you can find in our ECM Advanced Repair Range contain natural silicones, phenols, proanthocyanins, vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, polysaccharides & many others. Applied to the skin, these phytomolecules interact with skin cells and support the skin well-being and appearance. The effect on the skin is based on their activity, eg. antioxidant activity, antibacterial, anti-tyrosinase, collagen stimulating and so much more. New plant compounds are being discovered every day and so is their application in skincare. Here are just a few of our favourites:
Anti-Ageing Action
Preventing collagen and elastin from being damaged by inhibiting MMP (Matrix Metalloproteinase), the bled of penta- and hexa-peptides in our Brightening Serum extracted from the seeds of the sweet white lupin flower by using a patented bio-enzymatic process help to renew skin’s outer layer, reducing the depth of wrinkles and stimulating the production of more collagen and elastin, giving the skin a more youthful look.
Further strong anti-ageing action is delivered by our Gemmotherapy extract of 4 days old shoots of Safflower due to its content of proline which stimulates collagen synthesis & 8’-hydroxyarctigenin (growth factor) which supports cell renewal. The clinical trials of this active show such a strong results we have included it in all products in our ECM Advanced Repair Range.
Polyphenols present in many of our plant extracts also promote collagen synthesis and have an antiaging effect on the skin.
Known as botanical botox, Spilanthes Acmella Flower Extract is a natural anti-aging active for a firm and smooth skin. Renowned for high content of alkylamides (spilanthol)‚ it stimulates fibroblasts (rejuvenating cells) and enhances density of the skin and firmness.
Antioxidant / Anti-Pollution Action
In general, plant-derived, cosmeceutical products such as our ECM Advanced Repair Range tend to be antioxidant in action since these organisms must thrive in constant direct ultraviolet (UV) light, the Earth's most prolific manufacturer of free radicals. Antioxidant molecules from plants can help support the natural antioxidant mechanism of skin.
Well known for its capacity to neutralize reactive oxidants, sulforaphane, which is the predominant phytonutrient in Swiss garden cress can be found in our Brightening Serum.
The Raspberry water forming base of our ECM Advanced Repair Range is packed with antioxidant compounds. Raspberries are rich in anthocyanosides, providing high antioxidant levels to help fight cells ageing. The fruit contains polyphenols (anthocyannins) and vitamin C but also vitamins B1 and B2, provitamin-A and various trace elements.
Raspberries as well as many of our botanical extracts contain flavonoids which have strong antioxidant activity. We also include vitamins B3, B5, C, E & A in our products which are strong antioxidants and known to fight free-radical damage in the skin.
Brightening Action
Our Brightening Serum contains seven Swiss Alpine plants as well as tangerine oil which have tyrosinase (protein controlling production of melanin) inhibitor activity. Decreasing tyrosinase activity helps prevention of conditions related to the hyperpigmentation of the skin, such as age spots. It also improves the circulation of blood and lymph, particularly below the skin, which keeps the skin rejuvenated and looking young and vibrant. It's been shown to increase the ability to absorb vitamin C, a potent antioxidant and skin brightener.
Anti-Inflammatory Action
Antibacterial, astringent and anti-inflammatory properties of Eyebright extract found in our Eye Lift Treatment account for its usefulness as a topical treatment for under-eye puffiness and dark circles. It counteracts inflammation thanks to its high levels of iridoid glycosides, flavonoids, and tannins giving rapid relief from redness and swelling.
An exceptionally high content of Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) in borage oil within our Eye Lift Treatment helps combat skin dryness, loss of suppleness and wrinkling. GLA is needed by the body to make prostaglandins which are an essential part of the repair and maintenance action of the body, also involved in counteracting inflammation. With good levels of GLA, the skin is more tolerant to sunlight on a daily basis and the skin heals quicker. The anti-inflammatory properties of another GLA powerhouse, the evening primrose, present in our Nourish & Heal Moisturiser also help reduce swelling and redness.
Natural cosmetics are often preferred by consumers as their action is not based on molecules produced by chemical synthesis in the laboratory but through plant metabolic pathways that have evolved through the centuries.