Trend Setter

Thursday August 20, 2009

Empowering skin

By MAJORIE CHIEW

Boost your skin's ability to repair itself.

YOU'VE heard of people power. Now, there's "Skin Power"!

This refers to the skin's ability to withstand stress and maintain its texture, radiance and firmness, said Dr Kukizo Miyamoto, senior scientist, research and development P & G Beauty, Japan.

Sustaining radiance: Signature Series, SK-II latest range, is said to help to restore the skin's ability to repair itself. It comprises (clockwise from top left) Skin Signature (daily moisturiser), Skin Signature 3D Redefining Mask and Skin Signature Cream-in Foundation.

Explaining SK-II's new concept of skin power, he added: "Skin has its own power to withstand both internal and external stress. It can restore and beautify itself."

Skin power is determined by tolerance power (that protects the skin from stress such as hormonal imbalance, UV exposure and air pollutants) and rebirth (regeneration) power.

"Skin with strong tolerance power helps fuel skin's rebirth power and in turn, skin with active rebirth power helps maintain tolerance power. This cycle helps skin sustain its beauty," said Dr Miyamoto at the launch of SK-II new skincare range, Signature Series.

He also says that skin power declines with age. There is a Skin Tipping Point, marked by the sudden loss of elastic balance that typically occurs in the 30s.

Skin Power can be measured with advanced tools such as SkinPhone and SPQ detector, a skin compression imaging device that captures changes in skin exposed to different stress levels.

The Skin Power Quotient (SPQ) signifies the status of your skin. The higher the SPQ, the more Skin Power you have!

SPQ 3 means you've "high" Skin Power and the SPQ detector will show no lines in the compressed skin area. SPQ 2 indicates "medium" Skin Power: your Skin Power is waning and you may see the first signs of ageing.

SPQ 1 means "low" Skin Power and you may notice multiple ageing signs.

The Anti-Oxidant Response Element (ARE), found at the cellular level of skin, is said to help restore Skin Power.

"ARE is the ‘control tower' in skin. When skin is exposed to stress, ARE is activated. It sends a signal to skin to produce stress resistant substances to protect your skin," said Misa Anne Ito, SK-II global principal scientist and scientific communications manager.

"When ARE is activated, the skin's tolerance power and regeneration power increase. Skin Power also increases and skin is more able to withstand stress."

Unfortunately, ARE activity diminishes as skin ages.

"We found that Oli-Vityl, an ingredient derived from an olive species in Tuscany, Italy, can activate ARE and skin's boost tolerance power. Oli-Vityl is also a great partner for pitera (derived from yeast fermentation), a signature ingredient in SK-II products. Oli-Vityl promotes skin structural materials such as collagen and hyaluronan and also helps skin's tolerance power," she said.

"Oli-Vityl, when paired up with Pitera and Signaline (derived from olive oil and then blended with jojoba oil), promotes skin structural material synthesis. We see further skin rebirth power. We're calling this our new anti-ageing cocktail."

SK-II's new Skin Signature series to boost Skin Power is based on this formula.

There's a Skin Signature daily moisturiser to enhance skin power.

"As Skin Power goes up, skin radiance, texture (smoothness) and firmness are improved. This will increase beauty that women can see, touch and feel for themselves," said Ito.

One of the biggest concerns for women is sagging in the facial area. "We designed the Skin Signature 3D Redefining Mask to target three critical sagging points: the highest part of the cheek, nasolabial line and the corners of the mouth," said Ito.

The two-piece stretchable mask is an intensive treatment to lift facial sagging points while enhancing skin power. It is said to sharpen the jaw line and maintain the skin's firmness and elasticity. The upper mask targets wrinkle-prone areas such as the eye area. The lower mask is said to enhance skin's firmness and elasticity, and lift all three critical sagging areas. Signature Cream-In Foundation (with SPF 20 PA++) is a swirl foundation which contains the same essence used in Skin Signature.

"It has 75% skin moisturising ingredients, and not only protects the skin but also gives great coverage," Ito said. The beige swirl contains Oli-Vityl, Signaline and Pitera while the creamy white swirl contains Stress Response Capsule which gradually releases Signaline to protect skin from environmental stress.