INNOVATION WITH PEOPLE IN MIND
A major effort to emphasize the “Care” in “Scent & Care” is taking the division in a new direction. Research and product development within the division are targeting consumer needs for personal care and well-being more than ever before.
“If you want your health and beauty to last longer in the future, take care of your skin today.” According to Dr. Gabriele Vielhaber, Vice President Global Business Unit Cosmetic Ingredients & Innovation, the secret formula for beauty can really be that simple. Preventive skin care – the catchword at the very top of the division’s list of priorities – encompasses the most modern, highly effective UV filters and innovative active ingredients available for protecting the skin from the long-term effects of environmental influences.
Innovative mechanisms for protecting sensitive skin
“Hormones and stress, along with environmental pollutants, sun, heat, cold and wind, all have an impact on the skin,” says Vielhaber. “Unfortunately, we can’t do much about environmental factors. We probably can do something about the effect they have, however, and Symrise is there with the solutions – with products that give people clear added value.” One of these products is SymSitive® 1609, a multifunctional anti-irritant that combats stinging, redness, dryness and tightness in a completely new way.
“SymSitive® 1609 is part of our third generation of anti-irritants and represents the latest research findings. The compound acts on a neurosensory level, where it interrupts cell communication,” explains Dr. Vielhaber, summarizing the complex process as follows: “By regulating the flow of calcium in the cell, SymSitive® prevents negative stimuli from reaching neuroreceptors, increases the skin’s tolerance levels and brings its sensitivity back to normal.” SymSitive® conquered the market in 2010 – and was immediately honored with the BSB Innovation Award.
Natural care
A natural basis for personal care products was also the focus of another 2010 product development: SymVital® is a complex of anti-aging agents that counteract the visible signs of skin aging – an innovation based on natural resources. It owes its efficacy to a combination of aloe vera juice, raspberry leaf extracts and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, a compound related to vitamin C. Dr. Vielhaber explains: “SymVital® is the first product to unite these three raw materials in a single complex of active agents with extraordinary performance characteristics: it activates the skin’s own collagen synthesis mechanisms and supports glycosaminoglycan production. And that, in turn, significantly improves skin elasticity and strengthens the structure of the skin.” In practice this translates to lines that are smoothed and filled from within, giving the skin a more youthful glow.
New strategies for protecting the skin
Consumers of sunscreen products also stand to benefit from new Symrise developments. Whereas older sunscreens “only” contained UVA and UVB filters, second-generation sunscreens incorporate the effects of antioxidants, which are frequently augmented with vitamins and natural extracts. Used in products such as SymHelios® 1031, the new formulation developed by Symrise takes this process one step further, uniting traditional UVA and UVB protection with antioxidants and additional proteins. The result? Active skin protection at the cellular level. This three-pronged approach neutralizes toxins that damage the skin and activates the body’s own cellular defenses in the face of skin aging caused both by the sun and by environmental pollutants. In the words of Dr. William Johncock, VP Global Business Units UV Protection & Functionals, “This third generation of sunscreens can prevent premature aging and long-term skin damage much more effectively than either traditional approach. Not only does it protect the skin from UV radiation – it also counteracts other damaging environmental toxins, such as exhaust and cigarette smoke.”
The desire for beauty: despite being just one of many human needs, beauty has become an increasingly important demand in recent decades. Dr. Johncock sums it up, saying, “As you get older, you want to feel good, you want to be healthy and you still want to look good. And for that you need sensible, effective skin care. Our work and innovations can help you achieve that.”
