Despite the introduction of threshold limits and driving restrictions, air pollution continues to increase in cities around the globe. “This extreme situation is very detrimental to skin,” explains Symrise. According to the cosmetics ingredients supplier, consumers are increasingly aware of this and their demand for product solutions and formulations that restore skin’s balance is constantly growing.
To counteract the effect of fine particles
Indeed, studies show that urban dwellers develop 20 percent more pigmentation spots and show a more stressed complexion than rural residents. Professor Jean Krutmann and his research team at the Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine (IUF) in Düsseldorf have revealed the harmful effects of Particulate Matter on skin.
“Thanks to the studies from the Leibnitz Institute for Environmental Medicine, we now know exactly how these tiny particles attack and damage skin,” says Dr. William Johncock, Senior Vice President Cosmetic Ingredients Business Unit Sun Protection and Functionals at Symrise.
According to Symrise, until recently, skincare solutions to fight pollution were limited to antioxidant strategies and protective skin-coating polymers. Neither offered complete protection against the effects of Particulate Matter and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs).
“Since we now understand precisely how particulate matter affect the skin, we were able to design an evaluation protocol involving standardized particles and specific markers. This provides us with an objective and reliable framework for assessing the efficacy of anti-pollution actives,” continues Johncock.
Originally launched at in-cosmetics 2016 in Paris, SymUrban can “protect skin from the harmful effects of Particulate Matter - including collagen degradation, overproduction of melanin and inflammatory processes.”
A comprehensive urban defence strategy
SymUrban adds to a portfolio of active ingredients allowing the formulation of complete product lines to defend the skin against environmental aggressions:
– Dragosine helps protect the skin against infrared-induced damages and can support the global protection against sun rays beyond the UV spectrum.
– The natural raw materials SymVital AR and SymFinity 1298 reduce the effect of diesel exhaust particles, which exist in cities at extremely high concentrations. They can thus help to significantly reduce the risk of inflammation and pigmentation resulting in a more even skin tone.
– SymRepair 100 uses a special formula that reinforces the natural skin barrier while the Neo Heliopan range comprises diverse filters that protect the skin from UV light.
