LAS VEGAS—Essential fatty acids (EFAs) from natural vegetable oils can improve dry skin, reduce inflammation and decrease irritation, which can help skin look more youthful, said Carla Danca, account manager, AAK Lipids for Care North America, at a presentation at SupplySide West. The EFAs linoleic acid (an omega-6) and a-linolenic acid (ALA) (an omega-3) can be added topically to the skin to reduce the effects of photoaging, which comes from environmental insults and oxidative stress. These EFAs contain the protecting agents phosophilpids, sterols, esters, tocopherols and triglycerides.
Vitamin E tocopherols refer to a number of closely related compounds with essential functions in the body and are hot in the cosmecutical market today, Danca said. The reason consumers are interested in tocopherols are because they are a good source of antioxidants; they are anti-inflammatory; and they have synergistic effects with vitamin C, selenium, carotenoid and sterols. They have also been shown to inactivate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals, which cause photoaging. However, Danca pointed out the natural isomers of tocopherols are more bioavailbe than the synthetic version.
Sterols also provide anti-aging effects when applied topically, she said. Tetracyclin sterols are precursors of hormones and vitamin D, control membrane fluidity and provide anti-inflammatory effects.