Berkem develops plant-based active ingredients for skin care

Berkem, France-based ingredients company for health, nutrition and cosmetics, has unveiled the new range of plant-based active ingredients that are rich in polyphenols for skin care.

The Polynektars range of cosmetics active ingredients for skin care includes Fresh’ka and Origa’light, reports cosmeticsdesign-europe.com.

According to the company, Fresh’ka, an extraction from strawberry leaves, is rich in polyphenols from the flavonoid family, and works to brighten the complexion, smoothen skin texture and lighten the skin.

It is said to be developed particularly for dull skin, anti-aging products and oily skin with dilated pores.

As per the clinical tests conducted on 20 women aged between 20 and 40, the ingredient at 0.5% concentration level was found to improve skin smoothness by 63% and skin brightness by 35%, when the volunteers used the skin twice a day for 28 days.

Tests also were carried out to establish the effect of Fresh’ka on tyrosinase, the key enzyme in melanogenesis, and it was added that strawberry plant extract inhibits tyrosinase activity by 50% at 0.24% concentration level.

The company said Origa’light, which is a plant ingredient obtained from oregano leaves, is rich in polyphenols in particular from the hydroxycinnamic family.

The ingredient is claimed to be developed for lightening treatments, correction of pigmentary disorders and combating aging spots; and its recommended percentage for skin care products formulation is from 0.1% to 0.5%.

The ingredient is claimed to have inhibited enzyme activity by 50% at a concentration of 0.7mg/ml, when tests were conducted on the ingredient to determine its anti-tyrosinase activity.