Read on to find out key information about your skin and discover unique active ingredients to fight the signs of aging.
UNDERSTANDING MY OWN SKIN(1;2)
The skin is the largest organ in the human body. Its thickness varies according to the area of the body, from a few tenths of a millimetre on the eyelids to about 6 mm on the back. It comprises three main parts:
- The uppermost and thinnest layer, known as the epidermis, which is continually renewed and where cosmetic treatments exert their effects.
- The middle layer, called the dermis which provides elasticity to the skin.
- And finally, the hypodermis, the innermost layer of the skin which functions as a thermal insulant and protective shield.
The main role of the skin is to protect our body against harmful external factors by acting as a barrier; however it also plays a major role in other vital functions such as perception (touch), immunity, maintaining our body temperature and vitamin D synthesis.
The skin on our face is very delicate and vulnerable to harmful external factors. Daily skincare is essential to help maintain its appearance while preventing and correcting signs of aging. Cleansing, moisturising and protecting the skin with suitable cosmetics is essential to its health, beauty and youthfulness.
WHAT IS SKIN AGING?(3)
Skin aging, which leads to wrinkle formation, is an inevitable effect of time. It has two primary causes:
- Natural aging, due to genetic and hormonal influences,
- Environmentally induced aging caused by the sun, diet, smoking and other pollutants.
While it may be difficult to prevent natural aging, certain lifestyle choices (such as using moisturising, protective cosmetics with sunscreen) can significantly reduce environmental influences.
A wrinkle is a groove on the surface of the skin which is caused by a decline of the dermis and epidermis. The first wrinkles appear from the age of 30; little by little, they become more and more visible as the skin begins to lose its firmness and elasticity. The synthesis and quality of hyaluronic acid, elastin and collagen in the dermis decline with age, leading to sagging, wrinkle formation and loss of skin firmness.
HOW TO COMBAT THE SIGNS OF AGING
There are different ways to fight against wrinkles and visible signs of skin aging.
Cosmetic skin care: Essential for the daily maintenance of healthy skin, cosmetics help to delay the appearance of signs of aging by protecting the skin from external aggressors and mitigating their effects.
Advances in science have given cosmetics companies access to the most effective active substances, which are now being incorporated in high-performance cosmetic formulas. While most products target the upper layers of the skin, some act more more deeply, achieving greater skin-smoothing effects. When selecting an anti-aging product, choices should focus on ranges featuring well-known hyaluronic acid and collagen-based fillers in combination with protective antioxidants. Anti-aging efficacy can be significantly optimised by taking certain dietary supplements in addition to using cosmetic products
Aesthetic medicine now offers a range of surgery-free rejuvenation techniques. The injection of fillers such as hyaluronic acid-based products thus constitutes an ideal solution for smoothing deep wrinkles and facial remodelling. Once injected, hyaluronic acid acts like a sponge: the molecule retains water, thereby supporting skin tissue and smoothing wrinkles from the inside out. In addition to its effectiveness, hyaluronic acid has the advantage of being a resorbable substance which leaves no trace in the body.
Other cosmetic techniques like mesotherapy, or specific products such as Botox® may also be suggested.
It should be noted that the benefits of aesthetic medicine should be maintained through daily use of suitable cosmetic products.
Cosmetic surgery: Lastly, those seeking to substantially correct signs of aging may resort to facial cosmetic procedures. By surgically remodelling the contours of the eyes, cheeks and eyelids, cosmetic surgeons improve the features while correcting age-related flaws. Whether or not a procedure is appropriate should be discussed with a qualified plastic surgeon.
OUR EXPERTISE
Laboratoires Genevrier has acquired a historical expertise in dermatology and devised innovative solutions for the management of wounds and inflammatory skin diseases (eczema and psoriasis). The company is now placing this advanced scientific expertise at the service of cosmetology by developing a range of anti-aging products.
Through perpetual innovation, this proficiency in dermatology has allowed us to constantly reinvent ourselves, while enriching our knowledge and understanding of the skin and its aging process for the benefit of women everywhere.
OUR ANTI-AGING INGREDIENTS
Our high-quality hyaluronic acid(3;4)
Hyaluronic acid is naturally present in our bodies, and is a major and essential constituent of our dermis (deep layer of the skin, responsible for its support and elasticity). Hyaluronic acid is produced by cells responsible for maintenance of the dermis (fibroblasts) and those that make up the epidermis (keratinocytes). Hyaluronic acid has incredible moisturising properties. Indeed, the molecule acts like a sponge and is able to trap and hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, ensuring optimal moisture levels while keeping the skin flexible and protecting it from external aggressors. However, the synthesis and quality of hyaluronic acid decrease with age, which can lead to dehydration, sagging and loss of firmness of the skin.
Doctors have used hyaluronic acid injections to fill wrinkles for many years, as a formidable alternative to anti-aging surgery. Advances in research now mean this flagship ingredient can be used in anti-wrinkle cosmetic formulas to effectively moisturise and plump up the skin.
Our collagen(5)
Collagen is a protein which is synthesised by many cells and mainly present in the dermis, conferring this deep layer of the skin all its strength.
Collagen is a key component of our skin and contributes to its resilience, elasticity and suppleness. With age, decreasing collagen levels lead to the appearance of wrinkles and deep lines. Integrated into our formulas, collagen stimulates fibroblast migration and proliferation, thereby boosting collagen synthesis to restore volume to the skin while keeping it soft and supple.
OUR COENZYME Q10(6)
Coenzyme Q10 is a vitamin-like substance which is naturally found in the body. It is supplied by our diet and partly synthesised by our bodies. Our cells require coenzyme Q10 to make full use of the energy obtained from the diet. It also happens to be a powerful cellular antioxidant and therefore a flagship anti-aging compound.
Our plant extracts(6;7)
Our laboratories have incorporated Pycnogenol®, a highly purified pine bark extract in our revitalising anti-aging capsules. Purified from maritime pine, which mainly grows in the Landes, region of France, this extract is rich in flavonoids, which are potent free-radical scavenging compounds. Scientific research has demonstrated the benefits of this extract, which helps protect the skin from UV damage, among other benefits.
Physalis angulata is a plant which is native to the Andes and belongs to the Solanaceae botanical family. Physalis is commonly known as “Winter Chrry” or “Japanese Lantern”, as its pretty fruit is enclosed in a delicate chalice, similar to a lantern. Physalis berries are particularly rich in many active ingredients, including powerful anti-aging antioxidants. We selected this premium ingredient for our Anti-Aging Regenerating Cream to reduce premature skin aging by strengthening its protection.
Our regenerative proteins(8)
During the aging process, cell proliferation slows inexorably. Fibroblasts (the cells which synthesise collagen and elastin) thus gradually become less effective in the dermis, our skin’s support layer.
To help the skin re-boost the level of cell renewal essential to a visibly youthful skin, our laboratories have incorporated a protein complex (IGF-1, KGF and EGF) into the formula of Ialugen Advance Regenerative Anti-Aging Cream. This combination helps induce fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis, which are essential to skin suppleness and protection.
References
[1] Dreno B. Anatomie et physiologie de la peau et de ses annexes [Anatomy and physiology of the skin and its cutaneous annexes]. Ann Dermatol Venereol 2009 Oct;136 Suppl 6:S247-S251
[2] Della Volpe C, Andrac L, Casanova D, Legre R, Magalon G. La diversité de la peau : étude histologique de 140 résidus cutanés, adaptée à la chirurgie plastique. [Skin diversity: histological study of 140 skin residues, adapted to plastic surgery]. Ann Chir Plast Esthet 2012 Oct;57(5):423-49.
[3] Beylot C. Vieillissement cutané : aspects cliniques, histologiques, et physiopathologiques. [Skin aging: clinicopathological features and mechanisms] Ann Dermatol Venereol 2009 Oct;136 Suppl 6:S263-S269.
[4] Masson F. Acide hyaluronique et hydratation cutanée [Skin hydration and hyaluronic acid]. Annales de dermatologie et de vénéréologie [Annals of Dermatology and Venereology] 2010;137(S1):S23-S25.
[5] Biocell Technologies. Biocell collagen II: clinical review & technical outline. 2007.
[6] Baumann L. How to prevent photoaging? J Invest Dermatol 2005;125(4):xii-xiii.
[7] Pinto NB, Morais TC, Carvalho KM, Silva CR, Andrade GM, Brito GA, et al. Topical anti-inflammatory potential of Physalin E from Physalis angulata on experimental dermatitis in mice. Phytomedicine 2010 Aug;17(10):740-3.
[8] An JJ, Eum WS, Kwon HS, Koh JS, Lee SY, Baek JH, et al. Protective effects of skin permeable epidermal and fibroblast growth factor against ultraviolet-induced skin damage and human skin wrinkles. J Cosmet Dermatol 2013 Dec;12(4):287-95.