The power of seaweed! Marinova's marine based skin care 'breaks new ground'

The company received a silver medal at the Green Cosmetic Ingredient Awards in Barcelona for its work on the protective and anti-ageing properties of seaweed extracts.

The win coincides with the publishing of Marinova's work on those extracts - Maritech Bright' and 'Maritech Reverse'  in the peer-reviewed Swiss journal, Cosmetics. 

According to Marinova chief scientist Dr Helen Fitton, derived from the Undaria pinnatifida and Fucus vesiculosus species, the extracts are ideal for skin care applications.

'True efficacy of seaweed is largely unknown'​

On explaining the significance of the research, Dr Fitton says very few characterised seaweed extracts had been developed specifically for cosmetic and dermatological applications.

“The cosmetics industry has long promoted the benefits of seaweeds and seaweed extracts. Unfortunately, the true efficacy of many seaweed ingredients is largely unknown."​

The scientist says this was what motivated Marinova to develop cosmetic ingredients with 'proven bioactivity'.

"These novel, high-purity fucoidan compounds are very well characterised and set a new standard for natural skin care ingredients. Most importantly, their functionalities and benefits have been confirmed in a number of clinical trials,​” says Fitton.

Clinical trials​

In human clinical trials, the biotechnology company reports that the Fucus vesiculosus extract reduced wrinkle depth and improved overall skin appearance.

"It was also shown to reduce age spots and increase radiance."​

Fitton says these clinical findings corroborate in vitro tests, which have confirmed that this extract is a potent inhibitor of key enzymes responsible for skin damage including collagenase, tyrosinase and elastase.

Meanwhile, the extract from Undaria pinnatifida was also shown to reduce wrinkle depth and improve overall skin appearance and that clinical trials further confirmed that it increases moisture retention following UV exposure.

"The Undaria extract was also shown to reduce redness after UV exposure as well as activate key genes associated with wound healing​," Dr. Fitton concludes.