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OSKIA's Key Ingredients
OSKIA only uses the purest and most effective bio-actives that are clinically proven to work.
In all Oskia products, their MSM-Regen Complex, with its natural collagen boosting, repairing and regenerating properties, is combined with breakthrough botanical, mineral and marine bio-actives scientifically proven to work.
Each bio-active has been rigorously tested for efficacy by their ingredient manufacturers. It is our promise to you that OSKIA only use the most effective ingredients.
MSM - THE BEAUTY MINERAL
MSM (Methyl Sulphonyl Methane) is a natural form of organic sulfonyl sulfur compound that is found in all living organisms. It is the purest and most bio-available form of sulphur, one of the essential minerals crucial to life and the regeneration of cells. MSM has traditionally been taken as a food supplement to increase joint health for peak flexibility and mobility, as well as for strong hair and nails, beautiful skin, and many other health conditions. OSKIA is the first premium brand skincare range to harness MSM’s highly beneficial properties.
MSM can benefit all skin types and ages. It is known to have been highly effective in the treatment of conditions including acne, eczema and psoriasis, as well as sensitive, and problematic skin, and helps keep skin healthy and strong to guard against premature ageing and skin damage.
WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
It is found in the fluid and tissue of all living organisms. It is present is a variety of foods including raw vegetables, eggs, milk and fish, but is lost through cooking and food processing. We use OptiMSM, the purest form available.
MSM originates in the oceans where microscopic plankton release sulphur compounds into seawater, which is quickly converted to DMS, a volatile sulphur compound that escapes into the atmosphere. In this suspended, gaseous state, the DMS reacts with ozone and ultraviolet sunlight to create MSM. MSM then falls to the earth with the rain, where it is collected and concentrated in plants. Although MSM is abundant in nature, even the richest natural sources only provide MSM in the level of several parts per million. Commercial extraction of MSM from trees is not possible so a process is undertaken which parallels the natural oxidation that occurs in the marine atmosphere and produces MSM that is chemically identical to that found in nature.
OSKIA uses OptiMSM™, the purest form of MSM. It is distilled four times for optimum purity and is the only MSM supported by double-blind clinical research
HYALURONIC ACID
What is it?
Consumers sometimes misunderstand Hyaluronic acid (HA) and few realise the incredible properties that it contains. Although it is called an “acid” it occurs naturally in the skin (and joints) and its moisturizing properties are of such nature that cosmetic surgeons inject it, to remove wrinkles. It carries no risk of allergies.
What does it do?
HA is non toxic, non irritating and non sensitizing – so it can be used on all skin types. But injecting hyaluronic acid is not necessary – as it is the cosmetic ingredient that penetrates the skin the deepestand imparts its moisturizing effect to the skin, and also “holds” moisture in the skin– giving a far more youthful looking appearance.
It’s so effective that it will penetrate the dermis and epidermiswithin 30 minutes of application and this fact was well documented in clinical trails, which show that it not only passively diffuses into the skin, but is made possible by active transport into the skin. Clinical data has also proven that hyaluronic acid is very important in controlling tissue hydration– which is a boon for anti-aging cosmetics.
Apart from its moisturizing capabilities, it is also extremely effective to “piggy-back” other ingredients into the skin – and for this reason it has been used extensively in medical applications for drug delivery. Although we use HA in a cream for for application– it in actual fact works in hydratingand moisturisingthe skin from the insideand with this helps to smooth out wrinkles.
Apart from moisturising and hydrating the skinplus the smoothing-out of wrinkles, the increase of hydration in the skin is of critical importance as it helps in getting essential nutrition to the skin cells, as well as providing the vehicle for proper waste removal from the cellsas it helps to increase the amount of water held in the extracellular matrix of the skin.
This is an important point – as it not only supremely hydrates the skin, but also assists with the proper functioning of the actual cells in the skin and has a structure stabilizing function as well.
As stated previously, hyaluronic acid is naturally present in the skin, but as we agethe percentage of hyaluronic acid in the skin decreases, which also accounts for the loss of hydration and moisture in the skin. The decrease of hyaluronic acid starts at around the age of 20, but becomes apparent when people get into their 30s and 40s. The decrease also affects the way that the skin operates and ultimately results in wrinkling and loss of elasticity and a decrease of collagen– the support of the skin. Furthermore, it negatively impacts on the fibroblasts of the skin – and this leads to even less collagen being made, which also cause the skin to become far less elastic. An enzyme action in the skin – hyaluronidase– breaks down hyaluronic acid, and for this reason it needs to be replenished if strong, supple smooth skin is to be maintained.
During clinical trials it was also shown that this ingredient is effective to promote healingand to fight inflammatory conditions of the skin. Inflammation of the skin is also one of the factors that cause skin aging.
Hyaluronic acid can basically be divided into high and low molecular weight molecules – with the low molecular weight, being the preferred one to use in cosmetics, as it is a smaller moleculewhich penetrates the skinmore effectively, yet has the ability of holding and binding the same amount of moisture in the skin as its higher molecule weight cousin.
The low molecular weight (LMW) hyaluronic acid has also shown to increase important and needed enzymes in the skin, to increase skin health in general.
It is also of importance in keeping the normal functioning (homeostasis) of the skin on track - and actively helps with cell differentiation when the “baby” cellsare formed in the epidermal stem cells(basal layer), and then start their journey through the skin to finish off as dead flattened cells that normally shed.
This whole process can be thrown off kilter as we age, by environmental factors as well as environmental chemicals and Hyaluronic acids helps to balance this entire process as well - thereby normalising and maintaining healthy skin function.
MILK PEPTIDES
Stimulates collagen I synthesis by 40%, Hyaluronic acid by 1900%, reduces the depth of wrinkles by 35%, and increases skin smoothness by 17% in 14 days.
What is it?
Bio-active polypeptides (cytokines) obtained from milk, stabilized in a physiological milieu of other valuable, functional milk components.
What does it do?
With increasing age the skin loses firmness, thins and is prone to developing wrinkles. At the macromolecular level, this process is caused by a change of and loss in dermal structure: the density and composition of the so-called extracellular matrix deteriorates in time. There are two main reasons inducing these phenomena. First of all, the number and activity of fibroblasts in the dermis decreases in the course of time. This leads to a decline of production of molecules which make up the extracellular matrix. On top of that, these molecules are increasingly degraded.
MPC’s activity is based on the activation of fibroblasts via a cell-signalling pathway. MPC accomplishes this by delivering TGF (transforming growth factor â) in its active form, the most important cytokine in this process, to the skin. Cytokines are the key signal, or regulatory molecules, in our body. They transfer stimulatory or inhibitory signals to the cells in order to trigger cell response resulting in the restoration of a physiologically balanced skin. TGF is a typical stimulatory cytokine for fibroblasts. MPC acts as a booster of collagen type I, hyaluronic acid and fibronectin synthesis, leading to a reorganization of the ECM. These in vitro results proving the reconstitution of regenerative functions of MPC were also confirmed in vivo in several tests on humans. MPC helps the skin to restore its functions and appearance.
• Stimulation of Type 1 Collagen. 90% of collagen within the dermis is Type 1. It gives the dermis its mechanical strength and plays a vital role in giving the skin its firmness. MPC boosts the collagen synthesis by fibroblasts by an increase of 40% over untreated cells.
• Stimulation of Hyaluronic Acid synthesis. Hyaluronic acid is by far the most abundant and biggest glycosaminoglycan (a type of polysaccharide) in the dermis. It is responsible for establishing 90% of the volume of the extracellular matrix in the dermis and plays an important role in cell-to-cell signalling. MPC boosts the hyaluronic acid synthesis by fibroblasts by nearly 1900%.
• Reduction in Depth of Wrinkles. MPC was tested on crow’s feet around the eye area. On one side of the face a formulation using 0.5% MPC was used over 14 days. The other side was treated with a placebo. The formulations were applied by 20 volunteers twice daily. After 14 days the depth of the wrinkles was determined in %. 0.5% of milk peptides saw a 35% decrease in the depth of wrinkles.
• Increase in Skin Smoothness. The surface of the skin was scanned by active image triangulation, using a digital micro mirror device. Formulations were applied on 20 volunteers twice daily. After 14 days, skin roughness was determined and the increase in smoothness (%) calculated. Using 0.5% of the complex, there was a 17% increase in smoothness.
MPC’s strong boosting effects on collagen, fibronectin and especially hyaluronic acid result in strong and very fast effects on skin as proven in clinical studies.
NIACINAMIDE
Reduces water loss by 24% in 4 weeks, boosts fatty acid and ceramides by 67% and 34% respectively; stimulates new fibroblasts by 20% and collagen secretion by 54%; inhibits pigmentation by 68%.
What is it?
Niacinamide belongs to the family of the B vitamins. It is essential in the diet and is contained in many foodstuffs. Niacinamide is also known as Vitamin B3. It was recognised in the early 20th century as the vitamin that prevents pellegra, an epidemic disease with severe cutaneous lesions and was originally named vitamin PP for pellegra-preventive. During the 1970s various clinical trials highlighted the good skin penetration of niacinamide and since then scientists have been increasingly interested in exploring the topical effects of niacinamide and its application within skin care.
What does it do?
• Improvement of skin moisturisation. Skin softness, suppleness and skin hydration are related to the barrier properties of the horny layer. It’s known that several lipids such as fatty acids and ceramides are critical for the structural and functional integrity of the stratum corneum. The skin barrier function can be assessed by transepidermal water loss (TEWL) measurements. A study conducted in 2000 showed that 2% niacinamide reduced the TEWL by 24% in 4 weeks. At the same time, fatty acids and ceramides were boosted by 67% and 34%, respectively.
• Improvement in the appearance of ageing skin. Skin ageing is characterised by major skin changes like reduced skin elasticity, poorer structure and appearance of wrinkles. An important factor is the gradual loss of collagen and elastin fibers synthesised in fibroblasts. A recommended strategy in preventing skin ageing is to reduce collagen breakdown, while increasing fibroblasts. Studies with human fibroblasts showed that niacinamide stimulates new fibroblasts by 20% and collagen secretion by 54%.
• Helps impart a more even-looking skin tone. Extended exposure to sun light is a main reason for hyperpigmentation. Melanocytes in deeper skin layers produce melanosomes that contain the pigment melanin. These are then released to keratinocytes that move upwards to the upper epidermis. Niacinamide does not inhibit the production of melanin but it was shown in 2002 that niacinamide inhibits the transfer of the melanosomes to the surrounding keratinocytes by up to 68%. The scientists used a keratinocyte/ melanocyte co-culture model. A clinical trial with volunteers confirmed the skin lightening activity. They had applied a skin cream with 5% niacinamide for 8 weeks. Age spots around the eye and cheek were significantly reduced. | 
