Everyone knows that retinol is a hugely powerful and beneficial ingredient used across the skincare industry. So how are companies developing innovative ways to get the most out of it?
We take a look at Vitispheres R8, the new carrier system from Clariant and the ways in which this technology is overcoming the challenges to delivering retinol effectively.
The benefits and drawbacks of retinol
Retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, is a common ingredient found in skincare products. When applied to the skin, retinol is gradually converted into retinoic acid, a more bioavailable version, which the skin can absorb more readily. The key benefits seen from using retinol include;
- Increased cell proliferation
- Unclogging of pores
- Increased collagen production
- Improvements to acne and acne scarring
- Repair of photoaging
While retinol is hailed by many as the ‘miracle’ ingredient, it does have a few drawbacks when it comes to how it’s delivered into the skin.
The main challenges to the effective delivery of retinol include;
- Delayed results – retinol takes time to break down
- Unstable and deteriorates when exposed to oxygen and UV
- Can cause irritation at high concentrations
So, how can we get the benefits of using retinol without the drawbacks?
Vitispheres R8 by Clariant
Clariant has developed a unique carrier system to enable the safe and effective delivery of retinol into the skin. Vitispheres R8 uses patented technology to encapsulate retinol molecules, preventing them from oxidising and maintaining the shelf-life of the product without compromising on the potency of this key ingredient.
By using this unique form of encapsulation, Vitispheres R8 harnesses the full potential of retinol in order to deliver high quality results to consumers.
Get more effective results with Vitispheres R8
So we’ve heard about the technology behind Clariant’s Vitisphere’s R8 but there are some key benefits to this new system which are catching the attention of both formulators and those who regularly use retinol in their skincare routines.
Vitispheres R8 encapsulates retinol molecules, suspending them in a leakproof, solid-lipid core. This maintains the integrity of retinol, meaning that the active ingredients are only released on contact with the skin. The encapsulated ingredients begin to reach the ambient skin temperature and start to melt, gradually releasing the actives over time and preventing irritation from a sudden overload, this also means that retinol can be delivered at higher concentrations with efficacious results.
The gradual release of active ingredients also means that Vitispheres R8 sees better penetration and uptake into the skin compared with other systems on the market. This novel carrier system is also easier to formulate, with a wide range of applications across personal care and cosmetic products.
Learn more about Clariants Vitispheres R8 by visiting their website.
Get in touch today to learn more about how you can include Vitispheres R8 in your next formulation.
