BASF’s Care Creations has developed Seanactiv, an ingredient based on the organic-certified marine algae fucus vesiculosus designed to improve eye contour appearance within the first week of application. The eye area is the first part of the body to reveal visible signs of fatigue, stress, unhealthy lifestyles and ageing. Many consumers are seeking safe and easy-to-use products that can protect their eye contours and enhance their skin luminosity, BASF says.
Algae are photosynthetic organisms that can grow under extreme conditions. Owing to the tides, fucus vesiculosus spends as much time living underwater as it does on rocks or sand, making it particularly resistant to different conditions and temperature variations. The seaweed used in Seanactiv is harvested manually under government license, in line with good collection practices designed to ensure regeneration of the biomass. It is extracted via a selective procedure that concentrates the active fucoidan molecule present in the algae. This sulphated polysaccharide is characterised by fucose monomers is known for its beneficial properties in food, health and beauty, BASF says.
In a clinical study with 24 healthy, female volunteers aged 18-65, Seanactiv formulated at 1% in a cream was reportedly shown to improve the appearance of dark circles within a week, with a decrease in skin pigmentation intensity of 11%. At the same time, skin roughness was reduced by 14%, leading to a visually perceptible improvement in the appearance of crow’s feet wrinkles. Seanactiv was also shown to visibly improve skin luminosity of the area for a fresher, healthier complexion.
Soluble in water, Seanactiv is 99.8 percent from natural origin and complies with the COSMOS standard for natural and organic cosmetics.
