Well over half of people report having a scar somewhere on their body. Yet scar and wound care has traditionally been something that was only dealt with immediately after an injury, a procedure, or a breakout. That’s now changing.
People are increasingly reaching for daily care formats (such as serums, balms and masks) rather than clinical-only interventions, and formulators are responding with actives that support the skin’s repair and regeneration processes over time. The conversations this year around skin longevity feed into this shift; instead of aggressive quick-fixes, people are embracing barrier-first, regenerative and prevention-focused routines.
With the global scar care market projected to more than double by 2033, this is a great opportunity for formulators. So we’re pleased to present ChitoRepair GPC from Sinerga and OA Maslínico from EG Active Cosmetics.
ChitoRepair GPC: Vegan Skin Regeneration
ChitoRepair GPC is a film-forming, vegan biopolymer based on chitosan derived from oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) rather than crustacean shells. The chitosan is carboxymethylated to make it water-soluble, bioavailable and non-cytotoxic, then delivered in Glycerophosphocholine (GPC), a natural, biocompatible carrier from sunflower lecithin that improves penetration through the stratum corneum and helps stabilise the active.
On skin, it’s known for its re-epithelializing, filming and water-binding properties, and it has also demonstrated bioadhesive properties in testing.
Key Benefits
- Vegan alternative to crustacean-derived chitosan, without shellfish allergy concerns
- Re-epithelializing: supports and accelerates wound healing
- Film-forming and protective, helping to shield compromised skin
- Water-binding, supporting physiological hydration
- Eco-friendly fungal fermentation production, without seasonal or heavy-metal contamination risks
Testing Highlights
In an in-vitro wound-healing model using endothelial cells, ChitoRepair GPC increased wound closure by 64% after 24 hours, a 31% improvement over the untreated negative control. Bioadhesion testing on an inclined steel surface showed 89% adhesion after 2 minutes (+79% vs negative control), settling to a stable 64% plateau at 30 minutes, compared to just 10% for water.
Key Applications
- Cosmetics and medical devices for wound healing and skin repair
- Protective skincare for fragile or compromised skin barriers
- Hand, lip and foot products against cracks and fissures
- Treatments for rhagades
OA Maslínico: The Secret of Longevity
OA Maslínico is built around maslinic acid, a natural triterpenic compound derived from olives. It works by activating the genetic and epigenetic pathways behind skin structure and repair – upregulating key genes linked to collagen, elastin, hyaluronic acid and extracellular matrix production, and supporting keratinocyte and fibroblast growth.
Alongside this structural effect, OA Maslínico shows anti-inflammatory activity (it’s a strong inhibitor of leucocyte elastase and reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines), plus a distinctive epigenetic effect: it’s shown to control epigenetic marks connected with cellular senescence, effectively helping to rejuvenate the cellular epigenome.
Key Benefits
- Supports wound healing, tested against Centella Asiatica
- Volume-building and re-densifying, in vivo, on mature skin
- Strong inhibitor of leucocyte elastase and pro-inflammatory cytokines
- Reduces ROS (reactive oxygen species) and supports cell vitality
- Epigenetic support linked to cellular senescence and longevity
- Suitable for post-solar, post-procedure and other skin-aggression recovery
Testing Highlights
Genetic and epigenetic activation studies confirm upregulation of collagen, elastin, hyaluronic acid and ECM genes, alongside demonstrated efficacy in wound healing versus Centella Asiatica. In vivo testing on mature skin confirmed redensifying activity and increased skin thickness.
Key Applications
- Dermo-cosmetic treatments to restore and repair skin after sun exposure, beauty treatments, depilation, and other skin aggressions
- Recovery-focused serums and creams for damaged or compromised skin
Next Steps
If you’re formulating for scar and wound care, get in touch with the HARKE UK & Ireland technical team. We’d be happy to share further information about these two ingredients, supply samples, and offer specific formulation support.
