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Posted by BodyTree Naturals on
Skincare that works with –not against – your skin is a principle that informs all formulations at BodyTree. Central to this approach is the use of skin-identical ingredients.
Though “skin-identical” may be a relatively new term, these ingredients are not. They are your skin’s oldest and most natural allies for hydration and protection.
Join us in this blog as we unpack the science behind these remarkable compounds, explore their benefits, and understand their role in your skincare routine.
What Are Skin-Identical Ingredients?
Skin-identical ingredients, also called bioidentical or biomimetic ingredients, are compounds naturally found in your skin’s structure. These include natural moisturizers and lipids, such as peptides, ceramides, squalane, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and fatty acids.
Your skin is naturally equipped to recognize these ingredients. So, when applied topically, it accepts them as its own. They integrate seamlessly with the skin, boosting hydration and improving its barrier function.
What Is The Skin Barrier And Why Is It Important?
Understanding the role of skin-identical ingredients starts with understanding what they support: your skin’s barrier.
As you know, our skin is composed of many layers, each having its role. The outermost part of the epidermis (top layer) is called the Stratum Corneum (SC) – this is our skin’s barrier. It protects us from environmental pollutants while also keeping the skin hydrated.
The SC consists of skin cells and lipids that bind these cells together. Think of it as a brick wall – the skin cells are bricks, while the lipids are the mortar holding them together. The cells also contain several natural moisturizing compounds inside them for hydration.
These lipids and moisturizers, integral to the skin barrier, are what we refer to as skin-identical ingredients.
Types Of Skin-Identical Ingredients
We have seen that skin-identical ingredients are of two types: moisturizers and lipids. Let us understand these categories in some detail:
NMFs are compounds found in the skin cells of the Stratum Corneum (SC). They are effective humectants, attracting and binding water to the skin cells so they stay hydrated.
Amino acids, sodium PCA, squalane, glycerin, peptides, lactic acid, etc., are the most common NMFs.
SC Lipids are fats responsible for keeping skin cells connected to each other. These tightly packed lipids form a barrier that prevents water loss and keeps the skin moisturized.
Our skin has three primary SC lipids – ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids – essential for maintaining the integrity of our skin’s barrier and moisture levels.
Why Add Skin-Identical Ingredients To Your Skincare Routine?
If skin-identical compounds are naturally present in the skin, why should you supplement them with skincare products?
In most cases, these are ingredients your skin needs but can no longer sufficiently produce for itself. Over time, the production of NMFs and lipids declines, weakening the barrier and leaving the skin prone to dryness and damage.
Using products enriched with skin-identical ingredients helps replenish these compounds, fortify the skin barrier, and restore optimal hydration.
Take, for instance, squalane. It is the stabilized version of squalene, a natural moisturizer found in the skin. At birth, your skin contains about 12% squalene, but its levels diminish significantly with age.
Plant-derived squalane, like the olive-derived squalane in BodyTree’s Squalane Elixir Face Oil, mimics your natural sebum to hydrate the skin and keep it protected.
Top Skin-Identical Ingredients to Include in Your Skincare Routine
So, how do you replenish your skin’s natural barrier with bioidentical ingredients? The first step is to look for formulations that contain them.
Here are some of the top skin-identical ingredients to look for in products:
Squalane, as we have seen, is the stabilized version of squalene, a built-in moisturizer found in your sebum. It mimics the natural oils in the skin, thus delivering intense hydration, improved barrier function, and protection against environmental stressors.
At BodyTree, we use 100% olive-derived squalane in our formulations. Our Squalane Elixir Night Cream and Squalane Elixir Face Oil are great options if you are looking to benefit from this mega hydrator.
Hyaluronic acid is a natural humectant that draws in moisture and deeply hydrates multiple layers of the skin. With its ability to hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, it enhances hydration and improves skin elasticity.
Amino acids are the building blocks that stimulate the production of proteins like collagen and elastin, helping in skin cell regeneration. Our formulations use amino acids like L-proline and Hydroxyproline for maximum effectiveness.
Peptides are small protein chains of amino acids that support collagen synthesis. They help in hydration and skin regeneration.
Sodium PCA is a strong humectant that binds water from the atmosphere to your skin. Thus, it helps maintain hydration levels. It can also help restore dry and damaged skin.
Ceramides account for about 50% of naturally occurring lipids in your skin’s epidermis. They are the glue holding your skin cells together. Skin-identical ceramides can play an important role in replenishing and restoring the skin barrier.
About 25% of the skin’s lipid layer is made up of cholesterol but this percentage drops with age. As a skin-identical ingredient, cholesterol prevents moisture loss. It also strengthens the bond between your skin’s epidermal cells.
Fatty acids are essential to maintaining the skin’s lipid barrier. They form a protective layer over the skin, locking in moisture. Biocompatible with your skin, they restore your skin’s barrier and improve its function.
Glycerin is a natural humectant that attracts and locks in moisture. It keeps the skin hydrated and elastic. Many of our formulations use vegetable-derived glycerin.
Jojoba oil is not an ingredient naturally found in the skin, but it closely resembles our natural sebum. The nature of its composition allows it to penetrate deep into the skin to deliver hydration and protection.
What Are the Benefits of Skin-Identical Ingredients?
Choosing products with skin-identical ingredients lays the foundation for a good skincare regimen. Some of the benefits of incorporating these skincare products are:
Internal factors like declining lipid production and external factors like environmental stressors and toxins compromise the integrity of our skin’s barrier. Products enriched with skin-identical ingredients reinforce the barrier to a considerable extent.
Breakouts, dull skin, inflammation, and fine lines – they’re all signs that your skin needs a hydration boost. Skin-identical ingredients like Squalane and jojoba oil mimic NMFs to hydrate your skin, while humectants like hyaluronic acid draw in moisture.
By replenishing essential lipids, skin-identical ingredients make the skin more elastic and reduce roughness. Many of them, including peptides and amino acids, have collagen-boosting properties and help in skin cell regeneration.
Our skin barrier is what protects us from the damage caused by UV rays, environmental aggressors, and free radicals. By improving the barrier function, bioidentical ingredients protect us against these stressors. Many of these compounds also have powerful antioxidant properties.
Since they mimic the skin’s natural compounds, products with skin-identical ingredients are well-tolerated by the skin. They have a very low risk of triggering allergies.
Final Thoughts
Products with skin-identical ingredients are undoubtedly good for your skin. But they’re not miracle workers. Whether it’s a moisturizing lotion or hydration night cream, you need to use it regularly to see the difference.
