Biotechnology was once considered quite a futuristic concept that was mainly associated with pharmaceuticals. In recent years, however, it has started to infiltrate the world of skincare, to the point where it’s now having a significant impact on the entire industry.
Not familiar with beauty biotech? Keep reading as Introstem explores how these innovative, lab-grown skincare ingredients are paving the way for the future.
Biotech Skincare: What Exactly is it?
Biotech skincare involves using living organisms, whether this may be plant material, bacteria, yeast, or fungi, to grow skincare ingredients in a lab or a similar controlled environment. Many biotech skincare ingredients are virtually identical to their counterparts that grow in nature, while some also mimic the skin’s natural functions.
There are a number of benefits that come from growing skincare ingredients in a lab, with the most notable being:
- Sustainability – from large-scale farming to harmful harvesting techniques, many skincare ingredients, although natural, aren’t necessarily sustainable. Biotech does away with this problem by having a very minimal environmental impact, reducing the industry’s overall reliance on natural resources.
- Potency and efficiency – biotech ingredients can be engineered in a way that allows for maximum potency. This results in skincare products that are much more effective.
- Stability – some skincare ingredients, such as vitamin C, are notoriously unstable. Producing them in a biotech way gets around this problem.
- Consistency – ingredients derived directly from nature can often be inconsistent in quality. From the soil that they were grown in to how they were harvested to the time of year they were harvested, all of this affects the compounds within. Biotech ingredients are much more consistent, resulting in skincare products that can be relied on.
Biotech Skincare Ingredients to Try
Biotech is evolving at an unprecedented rate, meaning that advanced new biotech ingredients are constantly becoming available. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most effective:
Hyaluronic Acid
You’ve probably heard of hyaluronic acid. It’s one of the most famous skincare ingredients due to how effectively it binds moisture to the skin, providing an intense boost of hydration. Applying this ingredient to your skin can quickly leave you with a plumper, fuller, and more radiant complexion.
Back in the day, hyaluronic acid used to be sourced from the combs of roosters. Now, however, thanks to biotechnology, it can be grown in a lab by fermenting certain bacterial compounds from the likes of wheat, corn, and soybeans. Not only has this made the ingredient vegan, but it also removes the ethical complications that come from harvesting hyaluronic acid from animal sources.
With hyaluronic acid being such a skincare superstar, you’ll find it, along with its various derivatives (which are also produced thanks to biotech), in many Introstem products. To really make the most of the ingredient, give the String Lift Sculpting System a try. It contains a serum that has been formulated with six different types of hyaluronic acid – something that wouldn’t have been possible without the advancements in skincare biotech. It also contains a few other biotech ingredients that we’re about to discuss!
Plant Stem Cells
There’s a common misconception that plant stem cells function in the same way as human stem cells. This definitely isn’t the case, yet these skincare ingredients are still well worth knowing about. They boast a vast array of powerful antioxidants, some of which can’t be found in many other skincare ingredients. This enables them to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, protect the complexion from environmental damage, and give the skin a brighter, more radiant finish.
Thanks to biotechnology, topical formulations containing plant stem cells have come a long way. Being produced in a lab maintains both potency and purity, allowing these ingredients to produce some very impressive results.
Various plants can be used to create stem cell extracts and compounds, from apple to edelweiss. At Introstem, grape stem cells are our signature ingredient. You’ll find this extract in all of our products, making it easy to add those potent antioxidants to multiple steps of your skincare routine. If you’re looking for an easy way to add plant stem cells to your routine, try the Introstem Aqua Face and Neck Cream. Grape stem cells are combined with vitamins, peptides, amino acids, and a blend of hydrating plant oils to leave your skin feeling smoother and more supple.
Squalane
Squalane is another ingredient that’s loved for its hydrating properties. Like hyaluronic acid, it binds moisture to the skin, providing a plumper and fuller finish. Being a lightweight ingredient that doesn’t clog pores, it can be used by all skin types to create a softer and bouncier complexion.
So, where does squalane come from? Before biotech, the answer to that would have been shark livers. Approximately 3000 livers were needed to produce just one ton of squalane, making it a very unsustainable ingredient. Plant sources have been explored too. Squalane can be extracted from certain compounds in olive oil. However, ingredient quality is too variable when harvested in this way. Growing conditions, olive varieties, and more all cause inconsistency.
Now that biotechnology has taken control of producing squalane, everything has changed. Labs make use of compounds from sugarcane, fermenting them in a way that produces squalane. This has made the ingredient eco-friendly, sustainable, and consistent in quality.
Again, you’ll find squalane in a few different Introstem products, including the PrismaStem Midnight Recovery Mask. This leave-on mask brings together a vast selection of hydrating skincare ingredients, superfruit extracts, and cutting-edge bioactive compounds. If you’re hoping to achieve a brighter and firmer complexion, this mask is a must-try.
Vitamin C Derivatives
It’s no secret that vitamin C is one of the best skincare ingredients around. It’s one of those rare ingredients that pretty much anybody would benefit from, no matter their skin type or skin concerns. This is down to how multi-functional the ingredient is. Its powerful antioxidant properties play a part in many of the skin’s functions, enabling the ingredient to help with the appearance of wrinkles, dark spots, acne, dehydration, and more.
While this is all well and good, sourcing stable and high-quality vitamin C isn’t always easy. Yes, there are plenty of natural sources of vitamin C, but those versions of the ingredient are infamously unstable. They degrade quickly, meaning that not only will they fail to work in the way that they should, but they could also contribute to oxidative stress in your skin.
Thankfully, biotechnology has stepped in. There are now several different lab-produced vitamin C derivatives available that do nothing but good things for the skin! Take tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate and ascorbyl palmitate, for example, both of which can be found in the Introstem VitisCell Brightening Vita-C Serum. They’re highly stable, even when stored in imperfect conditions (which most skincare products usually are!), and produce incredible results. With this formula combining both forms of vitamin C with other high-performance antioxidants, it will quickly leave your skin looking healthier and happier.
Peptides
Peptides are another ingredient that many will be familiar with. In the human body, these chains of amino acids form the foundations of the skin’s structural proteins, like collagen and elastin. When applied topically, they leave the skin barrier feeling stronger and more resilient. They can also reduce the appearance of skin aging while soothing the feeling of inflammation.
Now that biotech has entered the scene, the peptides used in skincare have become even more efficient. They closely mimic the skin’s own peptides in a way that has never been seen before. Of course, this means that the skin is much more receptive to the ingredient when applied, giving you even better results.
With peptides boasting such game-changing properties, we’ve included various peptides in several Introstem products. The EmberCell Radiant Serum from the EmberCell Collection, for instance, contains a trio of powerful peptides. You’ll find a few other biotech skincare ingredients in this formula too, including grape stem cells and sodium hyaluronate.
The Introstem Facial Anti-Aging Firming System is another peptide-infused formula. This one contains a different blend of peptides from the serum mentioned above. Add them both to your skincare routine to really power up the results you see!
Plant-Derived Collagen
Although the collagen in the skin plays a key role in giving the skin its structure and smoothness, topical collagen doesn’t work in quite the same way. However, it’s still a very worthwhile ingredient to use. It’s a humectant, meaning that it deeply hydrates the complexion. It leaves the skin barrier feeling fortified too, while giving the skin’s surface a smoother and temporarily less creased finish.
Traditionally, collagen has always come from animal sources, primarily cattle and fish. However, biotech has changed that. Collagen can now be genetically engineered in a lab, produced from certain strains of yeast and bacteria. These methods of producing collagen allow for modification, making biotech collagen even more effective than animal-derived versions.
Want to add collagen to your skincare routine? The Collagen Cooling Set Limited Edition contains three products that are all dedicated to the ingredient. The HydroCollagen Lift Mask combines two forms of collagen with niacinamide and peptides, while the Collagen Plumping Mist sees it blended with a selection of other hydrating ingredients. The Advanced Soothing Cream once again highlights collagen’s hydrating properties, as well as how it soothes the skin. This collection also comes with a cooling globe. Use it to enhance the visible effects of the other products in this set. It will also make your skincare routine feel even more indulgent!
Summary
Biotech has already made a big mark on the skincare industry, and it’s clear that this is only set to continue. Thanks to biotechnology, skincare has suddenly become more effective, more sustainable, and more stable, all of which can only be seen as positives! If you’ve been wary about using biotech skincare ingredients, don’t be – these lab-grown ingredients really are the future, and offer nothing but benefits to the skin.
Click here to check out more biotech skincare ingredients in Introstem’s bestselling products.
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