Hydrate Skin from Within

A few very innovative products have launched in the last couple of years that yield results with ingredients that are not necessarily designed to stimulate those results. My standout favorite was SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2, a corrective moisturizer that provides the perfect ratio of lipid barrier constituents to restore balance to the barrier function. In doing so, it allows the skin to more efficiently repair which results in the production of key components that are not even in the formula itself. This is such an exciting area of skin care research and innovation! By restoring various functions in the skin – barrier repair, balance, hydration – the skin can work to repair other looming issues such as inflammation, hyperpigmentation and serious loss of elasticity.

A newer entry into the anti-aging market is is Dermal Repair Cream from SENTÉ. SENTÉ holds the patent for a specific molecule known as Heparan Sulfate Analog, which is a sulfated glycosaminoglycan, a very important player in maintaining hydration and barrier function. Sulfated Glycosaminoglycans are a group of carbohydrates that are essential to the metabolism of epidermal & dermal cells. They keep the collagen and elastin of the skin in good condition and provide the “bounce” factor in youthful skin.

The most popular glycosaminoglycan is Hyaluronic Acid but because Hyaluronic Acid is not sulfated, it has no biological activity for the skin other than binding water regardless of molecular weight. It’s kind of your cute friend that looks good and holds a drink, but can’t really make conversation or solve problems.
Along with Hyaluronic Acid, we also have Heparan Sulfate, Chondroitin Sulfate and Keratan Sulfate. As it turns out, without Heparan Sulfate, the cells will eventually just die. By stimulating the glycosaminoglycans to plump up with moisture IN the skin, Dermal Repair Cream upregulates growth factor activity in the dermis which then suppresses a variety of dysfunctions in the skin including excess melanin production and enhances skin repair resulting in smoother, brighter and healthier looking skin (in addition to hydrated skin). I prefer the idea of helping the skin repair itself rather than providing temporary solutions and a product that enables the skin to make its own growth factors is far preferable to just putting growth factors on the skin and hoping for the best.

 

A few medically-dispensed brands have debuted products highlighting Hyaluronic Acid. However, maintaining barrier function and optimal hydration levels involves a complex balance of all glycosaminoglycans. It’s just possible that Heparan Sulfate Analog will be THE ingredient on everyone’s skincare wish list for years to come.

Sente Dermal Repair Cream

Water (Aqua), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Heparan Sulfate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Retinyl Palmitate, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA

Find a physician stockist at Sente

 

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