‘Botox in a jar’, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
What is Acetyl Hexapeptide-8?
Commonly referred to as ‘Botox in a jar’, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 is a peptide compound used to reduce the appearance of fine lines causes by repeated facial expressions, such as crow’s feet, glabellar lines or nasolabial lines. Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 is often referred to by its commercial name Argireline, which refers to both Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 and Acetyl Hexapeptide-3.
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 promotes the skin’s natural production of Type 1 collagen, the crucial protein which forms large, eosinophilic fibres to rebuild muscles, reducing fine lines and wrinkles. This ingredient blocks signals from the nerves to the muscles; these muscles can no longer retract which causes the wrinkles to relax and soften. Wrinkles and fine lines caused by sun damage will not respond to Acetyl Hexapeptide-8.
What are the benefits?
Research shows that Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 can reduce wrinkle depth by up to 30% when used for 30 consecutive days.
Due to its similar structure to botulinum toxin, acetyl hexapeptide-8 in considered an excellent, non-invasive alternative to Botox.
Restores the skin's natural water barrier, and helps bind water to the skin, improving dry skin. It also helps to improve skin elasticity due to the improvement in Type 1 collagen.
How does it work?
With a similar structure to botulinum toxin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 works by controlling the production of neurotransmitters. The structure of the peptide mimics a fragment of the SNAP-25 protein and relaxes the facial muscles thereby smoothing the appearance of the skin.
Which Advanced Skincare products contain Acetyl Hexapeptide-8?
Recover + Renew Active Night Cream
Active Ingredients: 0.8% Retinyl Palmitate, 1% Hyaluronic Acid, 10% Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Recover provides much-needed extra care for your skin to help it recover from the stresses of the day while you sleep. Recover has been specifically developed to help rehydrate and promote overnight recovery, revealing a softer and more youthful appearance for the new day ahead.
References
Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, March 2015, pages 46-52
European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, February 2015, pages 27-35
Dermatologic Therapy, September-October 2007, issue 5, pages 343-349
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, October 2002, issue 5, pages 303-310
http://raluca-rosenberg.blogspot.com/2014/02/argirelina-inovatia-care-elimina.html
The science behind Advanced Skincare
I created Advanced Skincare after years of observing and treating various skin conditions such as ageing skin, pre-menopausal and menopausal skin, dehydrated sensitive skin , acne/rosacea prone skin and sun damage pigmentation.
Following much research and testing treatments, I discovered what works and what does not! In my past experience of being involved as a skin therapist, trainer and user of well recognised high end skin care products it is quite obvious that skin care has become too complicated with over prescription and over use of too many products that confuse the skin. Many products feel luxurious and smell wonderful but in reality they do not contain the important ingredients that I now know optimise skin health.
In my blogs I will share my research and top tips to help you improve your skin.
Autophagy & Skin: How to hack your cellular processes for a more youthful complexion
What is Autophagy?
Autophagy is the body’s way of removing dead or damaged cells, in order to regenerate healthier, newer cells. ‘Auto’ means self and ‘phage’ means eat, so autophagy literally means ‘self-eating’. It’s like pressing a reset button for your body and skin, the autophagy process recycles parts of dysfunctional cells for cellular repair and removes the rest. Alongside this autophagy promotes cellular survival and adaptation as a response to various stressors and toxins accumulated in our cells. Dr Yoshinori Oshumi received a Nobel Peace Prize in 2016 for his work on autophagy and related genes.
How does it benefit the skin?
Maintaining autophagy flux delays the appearance of ageing and reduces the visible signs of ageing. Autophagy detoxifies the skin by turning waste proteins that speed up the ageing process into amino acids, to create firmer, plumper, healthier looking skin.
Cell function declines 1% every year with age up until perimenopause, the epidermal cycle slows down, and in turn the efficiency of the autophagy process is reduced. Speeding up this process increases cell turnover and shortens the epidermal cycle, resulting in younger, fresher looking skin. Boosting the autophagy process reduces fine lines and wrinkles due to the increase of amino acids, creating a smoother complexion.
Speeding Up Autophagy with Skincare?
Good news! The autophagy process doesn’t have to reduce with age, there are things you can do to speed it up! Polyphenols, are a category of chemicals that naturally occur in plants, can be added into skincare products to promote autophagy in the skin. There are over 500 unique polyphenols, collectively these chemicals are known as phytochemicals, these powerful antioxidants protect cells from neuronal damage by inducing autophagy to remove the free radicals. Vitamin A (retinol), vitamin c, vitamin e, ascorbic acid, caesalpinia spinosa (Tara seed extract) and citrus bergamot are all polyphenols and can be used to boost the autophagy process in the skin. Here are some of the Advanced Skincare products that include polyphenols:
Recover & Renew Night Cream
A powerful and highly effective cream containing liposomal retinol, a stabilised vitamin A derivative which has been clinically proven to increase cell turnover. Retinol will reduce pore size, resulting in firmer younger looking skin as well as reduce, visible signs of ageing including pigmentation and uneven skin tone.
Eye Refine: Intensive Eye Serum
1% Lactic Acid, 7% Refined Silica, 4% Vitamin E, 1% Vitamin C
Eye Refine is an intensive eye serum which actively works to rejuvenate and repair the signs of ageing. Containing a unique blend of ingredients including vitamin E to hydrate, almond oil to repair and protect against the signs of ageing and lactic acid which has gentle resurfacing properties to diminish the appearance of crow’s feet and visibly improve clarity and tone.
Gentle Hydrate
3% Tara seed extract, 1% Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, 1% Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
This luxury silky moisturiser contains clinically proven ingredients to keep your skin optimally hydrated and in peak condition. H2∞ contains tripeptide-1 and tetrapeptide-7, biomimetic peptides to help stimulate growth factors and collagen synthesis, to protect and help restore the skin's natural moisture barrier and reduce inflammation. Natural Tara seed extract works deep within the skin to boost moisture levels and help prevent future dehydration. It’s also high in vitamin C and B.
References
Front Immunol. 2018; 9: 1376
https://juniperpublishers.com/jcmah/pdf/JCMAH.MS.ID.555573.pdf
https://www.iiaa.eu/autophagy
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2813915/
https://www.paulaschoice.com/expert-advice/skincare-advice/anti-aging-wrinkles/what-are-ceramides-how-do-they-work-in-skincare.html
https://www.naomiwhittel.com/the-anti-aging-miracle-4-tips-to-activate-autophagy/