Generality
The cosmetic botulinum alternatives offered by the anti-age product market are constantly evolving and growing. In fact, cosmetics have been trying for years to offer ingredients and products that are able to mitigate the signs of aging without having to resort to Botox injections or cosmetic surgery.
Biomimetic Peptides
In the last few years, the so-called biomimetic peptides have begun to appear in high-level antiaging cosmetics, small protein fragments formed by the concatenation of 3, 5, 6, 7 or at most 8 amino acids, capable of simulating the action of proteins present in nature. In particular, cosmetic research aims to isolate the functional amino acid sequence of a complex protein, and to bind it to a molecule - generally of a lipophilic nature - to allow or improve skin absorption. A classic example is given by collagen, a fundamental protein for turgor and the compactness of the skin, too large to be absorbed as such by the skin. To overcome this drawback, collagen is strongly hydrolyzed, therefore decomposed into very small amino acid chains.
Alternatively, biomimetic peptides can be used to promote their synthesis within the dermis and / or hinder their degradation: this is the case of Palmytoil Pentapeptide-4 and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-28.
In detail, the aforementioned biomimetic peptides are classified as anti-aging ingredients with a redensifying action, precisely because of their ability to stimulate and promote the activity of fibroblasts in the dermis, with a consequent increase in the synthesis of collagen, elastic fibers and glycosaminoglycans.
Botox-like substances
The botox-like substances are particular types of substances endowed with an activity analogous to that exercised by the botulinum toxin when it is injected in correspondence of the expression wrinkles, caused by the continuous and repeated contraction of the facial muscles.
In fact, these substances are able to induce the decontraction of mimic muscles, with a consequent temporary relaxation of the wrinkles they cause.
Among the main botox-like substances found within anti-aging cosmetics, we recall:
- Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA, or more simply aminobutyric acid), a particular molecule that is also produced by our body, of which, among other things, it is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter;
- Hexapeptides such as acetyl hexapeptide-8 and acetyl hexapeptide-3 (also known as "Argireline®");
- A particular pentapeptide known as "Leuphasyl®";
- A dipeptide known as "viper venom" or with the trade name "SYN®-AKE" (chemical nomenclature: dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate). This compound owes its name to its chemical structure, analogous to that of a molecule with a paralyzing activity present in the venom of the viper.
X115: the alternative to botulinum
It is with this promotional slogan that the X115® beauty treatment is advertised; going to peek between the INCI of the cosmetic formulation, we note the presence of a gamma-amino acid and a biomimetic peptide endowed with myorelaxing activity, known, in fact, also as botulinum-like or botox-like substances.
Once penetrated into the skin, thanks to its small size, the biomimetic botulinum-lilke peptides act by directly stimulating muscle relaxation (this is the case of GABA, which is produced by the same organism as an inhibitory neurotransmitter), or by inhibiting the release of endogenous messengers of muscle contraction (mechanism of action of Acetyl Hesapeptide-3 and 8). By decomposing the mimic muscles of the face, the wrinkle becomes less evident.
This effect - if on the one hand it is scientifically demonstrated through short-term in vivo research, but also by empirical experiences - certainly cannot substitute for botulinum injections for efficacy. For this reason, within cosmetics, the botox-like biomimetic peptides are associated with other substances with firming and redensifying action, such as hyaluronic acid (preferably hydrolyzed), vegetable oils and butters (shea butter, avocado oil, olive oil). acai, argan oil).
Keep in mind that in the cosmetic field the achievement of minimum concentrations of efficacy is a fundamental aspect. Poprio as a drug, if used in insufficient concentrations, a cosmetic ingredient is completely ineffective.
We recall, in this regard, that on the label the cosmetic ingredients are listed in decreasing order of concentration, so the first on the list is the most abundant, and the last is the least representative. Since these botox-like substances are generally very expensive, they are generally used at very small concentrations, therefore ineffective, for marketing purposes only. In the product examined, for example, we realize that GABA is among the first ingredients, while Acetyl Hesapeptide-8 is in the last place on the list; it follows that the botulinum-like action of the product is linked to the generous presence of GABA, while Acetyl Hesapeptide-8 was probably added only as a marginal substance but with a strong commercial appeal.
Let us remember, for the avoidance of doubt, that in the cosmetic field botulinum toxin is not allowed and that cosmetic formulations that are forged by the name botox-like do not refer directly to botulinum as an ingredient, but to the ability to trace its skin effects, which result in the relaxation of mimic musculature with an anti-wrinkle effect. Just like Botox injections, these substances have no healing effect, meaning they do not prevent or counteract skin aging. Not surprisingly, the product in question, to reproduce and improve the lifting effect of Botox, proposes the combined use of a supplement synergistic with the cosmetic formulation, capable of bringing important concentrations of antioxidants, collagen, hyaluronic acid to the body, and substances (echinacea titrated in echinacoside) which act positively on fibroblasts as redensifying and firming.
This synergistic nutri-cosmetic approach IN & OUT represents an indisputable excellence in the field of cosmetics and anti-aging nutraceuticals (nutri-cosmetic approach), because it significantly increases the concentrations of active ingredients available to the skin to defend itself against the metabolic alterations characterizing the skin aging.
For more information, visit www.x115.it
