Carbohydrates
This group is composed of highly effective skincare ingredients which are derived from diverse natural sources: plants, grains, fungi, and yeast. The majority of carbohydrates incorporated in beauty formulas are glucans, long chains of glucose molecules that are connected together. Being derived from plants or microorganisms these compounds are pretty familiar to our body cells, so they don’t cause any dermal irritation or sensibilization. Some of the glucans are even utilized in the food industry. Obviously, they are safe in concentrations used in cosmetics.
Glucans are a total win-win for all types of complexions. First, these carbohydrates are exceptional moisturizers. Being applied on the top layer of the epidermis they form a delicate layer on it and, thus, hinder water evaporation from the face surface. On the other hand, due to their chemical structure, they have the ability to bond water molecules and keep them inside dermal layers. The double moisturizing effect of these molecules protects skin from dehydration, consecutive dermal destruction, and wrinkle formation.
Next, they are potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. These carbohydrates efficiently hunt and neutralize free radicals, which are the main cause of collagen quantity drop and wrinkling. Actively penetrating the epidermis and dermis they also stop the harmful cascade of inflammatory processes and prevents degradation of the skin frame.
Also, these compounds are involved in the inhibition of melanin production. In this way, they battle hyperpigmentation, one of the most common problems of aging skin. And this is not the end. Some carbs are incorporated into beauty formulations to serve as prebiotics (food for dermal microflora). Microorganisms are an essential part of our body's uppermost layer and their bioactivity straightforwardly affect skin integrity. This is why microbiome-friendly beauty formulas are one of the trends of 2021.
Taking into account all these impressive benefits of polymeric carbs many famous beauty experts mention glucans as must-have ingredients of result–delivering skincare products.
Corn starch is a vegetable polymer used for decades in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. In its regular unmodified form, corn starch does not always provide desired technical properties and can therefore undergo modification or derivatization that shapes it according to needs.
Mannose is a simple monosaccharide sugar, a stereoisomer of glucose found in many plants and the human body. It plays an essential role in biological processes in the human body, particularly in protein glycosylation.
Microcrystalline cellulose is purified, isolated colloidal crystalline cellulose derived from fibrous plants. It is a white, free-flowing powder, odorless, and insoluble in water.
Potato Starch Modified is an off-white powder used as a thickener or emulsion stabilizer in skin care applications. It delivers a soft and velvety after-feel. The starch functions at low pH to provide stable viscosity and pH over time, both at ambient and accelerated aging conditions.
The discovery of Rhizobian gum comes from agronomical research and the study of microorganisms living in the soil in symbiosis with plants. A specific microorganism identified as a Rhizobium bacterium lives in contact with the roots of sunflowers.
Due to age and environmental factors such as UV radiation, the skin loses its ability to protect itself against pollution and microorganisms. Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan is a baker's yeast polysaccharide derivative that enhances the skin defense system.
Nature offers us innumerable varieties of carbohydrates, many of which are easily taken for granted. Simple sugars like glucose and mannose are among the most recognizable. Simple sugars can bind together into larger chains of sugars called polysaccharides.
Syner-GX is a mixture of guar gum and xanthan gum. The 100% natural thickener stabilizes formulations and imparts the skin a soft and gentle feel. A study shows that this complex possesses better thickening properties than xanthan gum or guar gum alone.
Walnut (Juglans Mandshurica) shell powder is an abrasive used in scrub products. Juglans Mandshurica shells are prepared by the controlled grinding of the shells of walnuts.