In the ever-evolving world of skin care, we at Annmarie Skin Care are constantly seeking innovative, effective, and above all, safe ingredients for our products. In this quest, we’ve discovered a remarkable breakthrough: Bioactive A-Complex. This novel ingredient is not only effective in promoting youthful skin but also serves as a safer and cleaner alternative to retinol. Let’s delve into the world of Bioactive A-Complex and explore its myriad benefits.
Understanding Retinol and The Challenges That Come Along With It
Retinol, a form of Vitamin A, has long been in skin care for its anti-aging properties. However, its use is not without challenges or harsh side effects. Common side effects include dryness, irritation, and increased sensitivity to sunlight. For those with sensitive skin, retinol can sometimes do more harm than good.
The external effects are just the beginning. This can be an extremely detrimental ingredient to use if you are pregnant or wanting to get pregnant. This is pretty much where the journey of using Bioactive A-Complex came to fruition. But more on that in a minute.
I was a few months pregnant and researching retinol. I knew it was bad for my health (and potentially my baby’s) and that I didn’t want to use it but I never dove into the details and studies behind my thought process. But, I guess that’s what you do when you have a little one growing inside of you—dive deep into every rabbit hole possible.
However, let’s pause for a second. If you are currently pregnant or are actively trying to get pregnant, and you use retinol––when reading my personal journey here, please take a deep breath and do not stress about what you know or do not know. Stress is the last thing that your body needs right now. There are so many ingredients in common, everyday products that we are inundated with on a daily basis that may not have our best interest in mind. Now, you can just look at yourself in the mirror and smile—knowing that you just uncovered the truth about one. Yesterday is of the past and today is a new start. You can make an informed decision based on what you now know.
Okay, onward…My first finding was that retinol is a proven hormone-disrupting ingredient, also known as an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC). This is something (natural or human-made chemicals) that may mimic, block, or interfere with the body’s hormones, which are part of the endocrine system. Retinol has the ability to disrupt progesterone levels, which can trigger a slew of other issues (including fertility), and shockingly this was stated as one of the lesser known side effects. Seems like there should be a massive warning label on all products containing retinol with the infertility stats that we see in this country—according to the CDC, in the United States, among married women aged 15 to 49 years with no prior births, about 1 in 5 (19%) are unable to get pregnant after one year of trying. This is heartbreaking! On top of all of this, I read about the excessive intake of vitamin A during pregnancy and how using a retinol or retinoid could contribute to an elevated level of vitamin A. Furthermore, maternal use of retinol or retinoids during pregnancy can result in multiple effects on the developing embryo and fetus, including miscarriage, premature delivery, and a variety of birth defects. The National Library of Medicine warns “the main adverse effects associated with excessive vitamin A intake, particularly at the beginning of the first quarter of pregnancy, are congenital malformations involving the central nervous and cardiovascular systems and spontaneous abortion.”
After uncovering the ugly truth behind retinol, I started looking into safe alternatives that we could use in our products here at Annmarie Skin Care. Even this search posed its challenges with finding “safe” ingredients that still came with risks and uncertainties. Take bakuchiol for example; although this ingredient is touted as the gold standard as a retinol-alternative, when I was in the formulation process of our Concentrated Boosting Elixirs, this ingredient still had data gaps and showed to have activity in the endocrine system. At the time, it was still unclear if the activity it was having was proving to have negative consequences on the endocrine system which was enough for me to back away and keep looking for something better. This is when I stumbled upon our Bioactive A-Complex. And by stumble, I mean, after months and months of research, found the cleanest, safest and most effective alternative there was to retinol.
Introducing Bioactive A-Complex
Bioactive A-Complex is an oil soluble active derived from green algae, offering a plethora of skin benefits without the harsh side effects associated with retinol. Leveraging the power of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a sustainable green algae, this powerhouse complex uses a proprietary technology to isolate and extract precious lipid fractions. This remarkable green algae thrives across a multitude of extreme habitats, including the depths of fresh water, the vastness of the sea, the moisture of earthy soils, and even within the pristine white of snow. Such resilience in facing nature’s extremes allows the algae to produce a wealth of unique bioactive complex lipids and fatty acids.
When cultivated in environments with elevated UV exposure, these green algae significantly increase their chloroplast production. Following cell disruption, these chloroplasts are then densely separated through a gradient method. The lipid fractions from the chloroplasts are isolated, providing skin renewal, hydration, youthful revitalization, and skin-calming benefits to defend against signs of aging. This ingredient is the heart of our new Activated Night Serum and our beloved Concentrated Boosting Elixirs.
How Bioactive A-Complex Works: The Science of Youthful Skin
One of the remarkable properties of Bioactive A-Complex is its ability to promote youthful skin through various mechanisms. It helps reduce the look of long-term swelling which accelerates aging—and can help enhance the skin’s natural process of cellular proliferation, vital for skin renewal.
Rejuvenation & Hydration
Bioactive A-Complex has a slight resurfacing effect for a smoother, fresher complexion, a critical aspect of maintaining youthful skin. Additionally, the complex lipids and fatty acids in green algae contribute to hydration, ensuring that your skin retains its appearance of suppleness and resilience. Looking at the efficacy data on this ingredient, studies have shown the skin has a remarkable increase in its capacity to hold water. Cells isolated from subjects who received the Bioactive A-Complex application in-vivo over a two-week period demonstrated a significantly enhanced ability to absorb water compared to those addressed with a placebo. Whereas the control group’s cells absorbed roughly 4.7 mg of water when fully hydrated, the cells from subjects addressed with the Bioactive A-Complex were able to absorb approximately 80% more water, reaching an absorption level of 8.5 mg. This is incredible!!
Afterwards, the fully hydrated cells were relocated and isolated—to review their ability to retain their moisture/hydration by monitoring their molecular weight over time. Immediately, the cells addressed with Bioactive A-Complex retained slightly more water than the control but over a period of two hours, it was shown that the control had lost all water and the cells addressed with Bioactive A-Complex retained 30% of the hydration. These results show that this activated ingredient not only increases hydration in the skin but also has the capacity for the skin to retain the water that it initially gained from it. For someone needing that extra boost of hydration and plumped skin, this is certainly the information you’re looking for.
Aging Skin & Turnover Time
Bioactive A-Complex, with its benefits, helps to defend the skin against the signs of aging, keeping it looking vibrant and healthy. Skin turnover time was tested and when addressed with Bioactive A-Complex, it was shown that participants’ skin turnover time was reduced, showing an increase in skin renewal by 20%. An in-vivo immediate and long-term analysis was performed to determine the ability for this activated ingredient to modify the appearance of skin with immediate use and with repeated use. For the first test, an hour was used to determine that this ingredient was successful in increasing skin hydration, feel and slip, and decreasing skin friction. For the long-term test, after a 4 week period, it was shown that subjects using this ingredient were able to see a relative change in skin properties—for the better—increased hydration, clarity, firmness and the overall appearance was also improved across all subjects.
Preventing Skin Damage & Supporting Skin’s Natural Fibroblast Multiplication Process
Our Activated Night Serum and Concentrated Boosting Elixirs, infused with Bioactive A-Complex, are designed to address surface buildup and help renew skin to a state of firmness and youthful bounce. This proactive approach ensures long-term skin health and vitality. Fibroblasts, which are cells found in connective tissue, play a crucial role in skin health by producing collagen, glycoproteins, and various large molecules. As we age, the rate at which these fibroblasts multiply drastically slows down, a factor that plays a significant role in the development of age-related changes in the skin. Think saggy skin, enlarged lines, discoloration and uneven skin tone. Supporting the skin’s natural multiplication process of fibroblasts can help counteract the outward signs of skin aging, leading to a more youthful appearance. An in vitro Cellular Proliferation Assay was performed and after a 24 hour period showed that Bioactive A-Complex proved to have a 70% proliferation increase. This shows an incredibly positive effect this ingredient has on firming the skin back to a state of vitality. This alone is what can reduce the appearance of aging skin and also prevent further damage.
Nourishment with Algae Extract
Algae extract, a component of Bioactive A-Complex, is rich in essential nutrients, antioxidants, and minerals. It nourishes and rejuvenates the skin, promoting the appearance of a healthy and radiant complexion.
Combating Temporary Redness & Soothing and Calming Properties
For those with sensitive skin, Bioactive A-Complex offers natural soothing properties. Algae extract calms the skin, reducing temporary redness and sensitivity, a benefit seldom found in traditional retinol products. In studies using the value of the Minolta Chroma Meter to determine redness, Bioactive A-Complex has been proven to reduce temporary redness overall on subjects compared against a lotion without this magical green algae used.
Embracing Nature’s Bounty
At Annmarie Skin Care, we believe in harnessing the power of nature. Bioactive A-Complex is a testament to this philosophy, offering a natural, effective solution for age-defying skin care.
The Future of Skin Care
As we continue to innovate and explore the wonders of natural skin care, Bioactive A-Complex stands out as a significant milestone. We no longer have to compromise our skin’s health for the beautifying effects of retinol (or swear off our “retinol” product entirely because of its safety concerns). We invite you to experience the transformative power of this potent, retinol-alternative ingredient, featured in our Activated Night Serum and Concentrated Boosting Elixirs, and join us in achieving visible results while embracing a cleaner, safer approach to skin care.
This journey into the heart of Bioactive A-Complex reveals a future where effective skin care aligns seamlessly with safety and nature-powered formulations. We’re especially excited for those who may have been in the same boat—skin care lovers who wanted to maintain skin health and glow naturally while ensuring the safety of you and your little one during pregnancy. To know that it is possible to find better, safer alternatives that continue to keep you and your skin feeling its best. We, at Annmarie Skin Care, are excited to lead this revolution, ensuring that your skin receives the care it deserves at any age.
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