Introducing Biotechnology
Biotech ingredients are made in a lab by scientists who use living, naturally derived substances to recreate them or produce very similar raw ingredients. In this way the land, water and resources that would normally be required in farming is significantly reduced to almost zero! Usually through a fermentation process, chemists cause cells from plants, microbes or yeasts to multiply and grow, creating ingredients bio-identical to those found in nature.
The fermentation process to culture plant cells is carried out in industrial sized, (often around 500,000 litres), containers called bioreactors for large scale production. These huge vessels are used to provide a stable temperature and optimal pH, free of pathogens throughout the process. Through the process of biotechnology, it has become possible to produce sustainably sourced active ingredients on a large-scale at low cost.
Bio-tech Palm oil alternatives are just one example, some others that we use at Aesthetics Rx® include but not limited to Hyaluronic acid, Kojic acid, Resveratrol, Stem cells, peptides, squalane, ceramides, and fermented polysaccharides. Even some essential oils can be created with biotechnology where species of fungi have been used to produced oils with similar scents and functions to essential oils such as rose. To produce 1kg of rose essential oil around 4 tonnes of rose petals is required! Biotechnology is a valuable mechanism in preserving natural resources and reducing costs of farming them.
Biotechnology also produces consistently high-quality ingredients. In nature the quality, colour and scent of a plant is affected by climate, season, soil, and so many variables that it is difficult to maintain 100% consistency of the raw ingredient each time it is harvested. Have you ever noticed that sometimes your favourite cream looks a slightly different colour to the last time you purchased it? That can be attributed to the disadvantages of variations that occur in nature. This doesn’t happen with biotechnology. Using biotech ingredients means it looks, feels and smells consistent each and every time, and most importantly the quality and efficacy of the ingredient is maintained and incredibly, can even be improved on what nature originally intended. Don’t be put off by the science, remember, biotech ingredients are made from living, natural ingredients, they are different to synthetic, artificial ingredients. Ingredients derived through biotechnology guarantee absolute consistency in quality and concentration, whilst ensuring skin safety, efficacy and importantly, sustainability from a renewable resource. As more biotech derived skincare ingredients become available, our vision is to include them in our formulations.
Biotechnology derived ingredients used at Aesthetics Rx®:
Abyssine PF
Process: Exopolysaccharide from Alteromonas macleodii subsp. of the ocean obtained by blue biotechnology (fermentation).
Products with this ingredient: Revitalising Foaming Cleanser.
BetaGlucan
Process: Made from oats by a patented technology which refines
Beta-Glucan to produce a highly active soluble fraction.
Products with this ingredient: Microbiome Balancing Mist, Instant Rescue Face Mask.
Biome Oleoactif®
Process: A patented Oléo-éco extraction using bacterial biomass of Anoxybacillus Kamchatkensis
Products with this ingredient: Pre-Juvenation DNA Oil, Anti- Pollution Cleansing Oil, H20 Lipid Balm.
Bromelain
Process: Enzyme extract process of Pineapple.
Product with this ingredient: Fruit Enzyme Mask.
Carica Papaya (Paw Paw) Fermented
Process: Fruit and bacterial fermentation.
Product with this ingredient: Fruit Enzyme Mask.
DermaPeptide Toning
Process:
1. Fermentation of yeast in a defined media at a specific temperature and duration.
2. Aqueous extraction at specific pH and Temperature for a set duration.
3. Addition of Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate.
4. Filtration.
Products with this ingredient: Microbiome Balancing Mist, Revitalising Foaming Cleanser, Refining Mousse Cleanser.
Cristalhyal
Process: The biosynthesis of Cristalhyal may be described briefly in the following 2 key steps:
During the first phase, non-GMO lactic bacteria multiply on an adapted renewable substrate stemming from wheat fractionation.
During the second phase, bacteria are placed under stress conditions. This leads to the production of hyaluronic acid.
The polysaccharide is then concentrated, precipitated using bioethanol, and finally purified.
Products with this ingredient: AHA Cream Cleanser, A Serum, A Serum 1%, B Serum, C Serum 23%, Ultimate Serum, Daily Moisturiser Hydrating, Daily Moisturiser Combination, Anti-Ageing Regeneration Formula, Total Repair DNA Serum, Vital Eye Cream.
Lactic Acid
Process: Glucose fermentation.
Products with this ingredient: Bio-Fermented Triple Action Scrub, Ultimate Serum, Refining Mousse Cleanser.
Papaya Extract
Process: Fermentation.
Products with this ingredient: Bio-Fermented Triple Action Scrub.
Papain
Process: Enzyme extract process of Paw Paw.
Product with this ingredient: Fruit Enzyme Mask.
Pepha Tight
Process: Cultivation and extraction of microalgae.
Product with this ingredient: Total Repair DNA Serum.
PhytoCellTe Malus Domestica
Process: Isolation and culture of apple stem cells.
Product with this ingredient: Anti-Ageing Regeneration Formula.
Polylactic Acid (Ecoscrub, exfoliating beads)
Process: Lactic Acid (from Corn Starch) used as a starting point in creating this ingredient is derived from the bacterial fermentation.
Product with this ingredient: Bio-Fermented Triple Action Scrub.
PrimalHyal 50
Process: Bacterial fermentation.
Product with this ingredient: Total Repair DNA Serum, Vital Eye Cream.
Tasman Pepper AF
Process: Proprietary extraction method using natural solvents.
Product with this ingredient: AHA Cream Cleanser.
Triethyl citrate
Process: An ester of citric acid.
Product with this ingredient: Fruit Enzyme Mask.
Retinaturel
Process: Fermentation of yeast extract by Halobacterium salinum in glycerin.
Product with this ingredient: AHA Cream Cleanser.
Sodium Hyaluronate (HMW & LMW)
Process: Extracted via bacterial fermentation using glucose that is corn derived.
Product with this ingredient: AHA Cream Cleanser, Instant Rescue Face Mask.
VC-IP
Process: Enzymatic process combining Vitamin C from corn with a fatty acid derived from vegetable oil.
Product with this ingredient: Anti-Ageing Regeneration Formula, Daily Moisturiser Hydrating, Vital Eye Cream
YogurtDermal Respiratory Factor
Process:
1. Cells of lactobacillus Bulgaricus are subject to UV Radiation at specific wavelengths.
2. The radiated cells are extracted in water to extract the active Lactobacillus secretions.
3. Active Fraction is isolated using tangential flow filtration.
4. Addition of Leuconostoc/Radish root Ferment & Populus Tremuloides Bark Extract.
Product with this ingredient: Instant Rescue Face Mask.