What It Does- To even out sun spots, blotches, and mottled skin, a little hydroquinone goes a long way. “It’s the most effective ingredient for bleaching skin,” says Jeannette Graf, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

How It Works- Hydroquinone fades hyperpigmentation by blocking the enzyme that triggers melanin production in the skin.

What It Does- Natural DNA repair activity for humans is facilitated by endonuclease, which is the enzyme in Ultrasomes. Endonuclease recognizes UV damage and is reported to accelerate its repair four-fold. Ultrasomes also protect the immune system by repairing UV-DNA damage.

Interestingly , Ultrasomes also stimulate the production of melanin by melanocytes in the tanning response following UV exposure.

How It Works- Ultrasomes are UV-endonuclease enzymes encapsulated in multilamellar liposomes. Endonuclease is prepared from Micrococcus luteus. The liposomes (200 nanometers) are formed from pure and 100% natural egg phospholipids.

What It Does- Hydrocotyle asiatica extract is a valuable ingredient of anti-aging cosmetics because it prevents skin aging and the creation of wrinkles. It is a known product with confirmed regenerative properties and has been prescribed by physicians for 20 years.

Hydrocotyle:

- stimulates fibroblasts to the production of collagen
- has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties
- influences the reduction of wrinkles and prevents the creation of new ones
- has anti-swelling properties
- strengthens the walls of blood vessels
- used in the care of thread-vein complexion, removes shades under eyes
- stimulates the synthesis of hyaluronic acid
- smoothing and decreasing of discolorations, scars (e.g. striae of the skin)

How It Works- Hydrocotyle centella asiatica extract wshows strong anti-inflammatory properties and prevents damage of skin tissue as a result of aging process. Just like estrogens it influences fibroblasts metabolism and the synthesis of collagen fibers. It stimulates the synthesis of hyaluronic acid, responsible for skin moistening.

When the fresh leaves and stems are used in a poultice for wounds, burns, and skin diseases such as scleroderma, lupus, and leprosy, it is said to heal quickly and reduce the formation of scars. Skin washes made from fresh leaves will have a cooling, invigorating feel.

The leaves contain two volatile essential oils, camphor and vellarin, as well as calcium, magnesium, vitamins A, C, and K, and the anti-inflammatory component called madecassoside.

A scientific study has shown that the components in hydrocotyle asiatica help develop keratin and collagen, which supports healing of connective tissues, skin, cartilage, hair, and nails.

What It Does- Sederma has recently demonstrated that Matrixyl® 3000 shows great results in repairing photo-aged skin and defragmented collagen network at the level of the dermis. The crow’s feet wrinkles decrease by 33% after applying a cream for two months.

How It Works- In order to react to their environment or to internal stimuli and regulate their activity, the cells use several clearly defined signalling pathways that will transfer information from the cell surface to the internal effector system, most of the time the genes. So it works like a key and a keyhole.

What It Does- Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (formerly know as Tetrapeptide-3) is a synthetic peptide comprised of four amino acids that is used in beauty products and cosmetics to suppress the production of excess interleukins, the chemical messengers which trigger the body’s acute inflammatory response.

How It Works- Studies have shown that Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 can slow or suppress the production of excess interleukins, therefore inhibiting unnecessary inappropriate inflammatory responses and glycation damage.

This can lead to glycation damage, or the process by which glucose links with proteins and causes them to bind together, stiffening tissues. This negatively affects the skin’s support system, comprised of collagen, elastin and other proteins, and leads to wrinkles, sagging, and uneven skin tone.

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 is a key ingredient in Matrixyl 3000 and is used in conjunction with Palmitoyl-Oligopeptide. Together, they can boost the growth of the connective tissues and naturally increasing the production of collagen in the skin; when the production of collagen is increased, the skin can heal and rejuvenate itself.