672 A cosmetic serum formulated with botanical extracts targeting causes of slackened skin improves skin elasticity, firmness, wrinkle severity and facial contours

Abstract

The appearance of slackened, sagging skin tends to become prevalent in the fourth or fifth decade of life regardless of lifestyle or environmental exposure. The constant effect of gravity over time contributes to the emergence of prominent nasolabial folds and sagging skin along the jawline and neck. As such, a treatment product specifically targeted to lift sagging skin is critical to a skin care regimen. Here, we identified multiple botanical extracts that support 3 specific factors associated with slackened skin in vivo: hyaluronic acid, collagenous fibers, and elastic fibers. The extracts stimulated the production of HA, collagen, laminin or elastin on human dermal fibroblasts. In addition, the extracts inhibited the activity of hyaluronidase, the enzyme that degrades HA in vivo as well as the MMPs that degrade dermal proteins. These extracts were formulated into a cosmetic serum then applied to cultured ex vivo skin. After 7 days, the skin was sectioned and stained for collagen VII, a critical protein that supports the dermal-epidermal junction. Decline of collagen VII correlated with slackened skin. Collagen VII was greatly increased compared to untreated control. In a clinical study, 45 women applied the cosmetic serum to the face twice daily for 12 weeks. Skin firmness and lifting attributes showed statistically significant improvements after 4, 8 and 12 weeks of product use relative to baseline. At least 98% of subjects showed improvements in multiple parameters for lifting along the contours of their face (cheek/jawline.) This serum is an effective treatment to improve the appearance of slackened skin.