SkinCeuticals have recently added a new day time serum to its range.
Known for their high-potency and medical-grade formulations, SkinCeuticals’ diverse range of anti-ageing and skin-restoring products are always high on the list of just about every person interested in skincare.
SkinCeuticals Cell Cycle Catalyst, the brand’s latest lightweight serum that promises to accelerate skin renewal and amplify anti-ageing results, is poised to become the next skincare obsession. But what exactly are the power ingredients behind its formula?
Understanding the ingredients in skincare products is a must before you decide what gets added to your skincare regimen. It’s a crucial first step that allows you to choose products tailored to your specific needs, ensuring optimal results.
While skincare shelves are filled with products that claim to slow down ageing, only a select few live up to their promises. That is why SkinCeuticals has cemented its spot at the top of the skincare game: Its medical-grade formulations are backed by strong science and have earned the approval of Doctors and skincare professionals—and Cell Cycle Catalyst is no different.
The use of science-backed ingredients is crucial for ensuring the efficacy and safety of skincare products, enabling consumers to make informed decisions, and benefiting from the continuous innovation in skincare technology.
The latest in SkinCeuticals’ highly praised line of anti-ageing serums, Cell Cycle Catalyst sets itself apart by focusing on accelerating cell turnover and renewing the skin barrier to boost the results of your anti-ageing routine. Skin cell renewal is a key aspect of maintaining healthy and vibrant skin, especially since the natural ageing process and other external factors inevitably slow down the process.
This can cause the skin to look dull, and it can exacerbate issues like fine lines, wrinkles, acne and uneven skin tone. By using products that promote cell turnover, you encourage the shedding of dead skin cells and the arrival of new, healthy cells.
As far as results are concerned, Cell Cycle Catalyst is looking pretty solid. In an eight-week clinical trial conducted on 78 women, users reported a 21-percent and 16-percent reduction in global fine lines and discolouration, respectively, a 13-percent decrease in visible pores and an improvement in skin radiance and acne marks by 15 to 16 percent.
More on Taurine
Taurine is a non-essential (meaning the body can make it so it need not be obtained from food) amino acid that is found naturally in skin. One of its functions is to help the body maintain homeostasis, the state of balance among all internal systems the body needs to work correctly.
Studies point to a decline in taurine content over time as a contributing factor to the development of wrinkles and water loss in skin. Research also shows that because of taurine’s antioxidant abilities, topical application can help restore skin’s youthful appearance by improving the look of wrinkles. It can also help restore skin’s vital moisture barrier.
What Are the Key Ingredients in SkinCeuticals Cell Cycle Catalyst?
SkinCeuticals Cell Cycle Catalyst is powered by a 7.7-percent complex of alpha and beta hydroxy acids, known for their ability to reverse photodamage and improve wrinkles, elasticity, tone and hydration. This blend of exfoliating acids delivers a gentle multi-layer peeling to improve tone and texture, refine the look of fine lines and diminish discolouration.
AHAs are water-soluble acids that work on both the epidermal and dermal layers of the skin by loosening and breaking down the gluey substance that holds dead skin cells together, promoting cellular renewal through exfoliation, enhancing moisturisation, reducing wrinkles and boosting collagen synthesis.
On the other hand, BHAs are lipid-soluble, which means they can penetrate even deeper into the skin to remove excess oil and pore-clogging dead skin cells. When used together in the same formula, AHAs and BHAs can deliver even better results.
Together, they provide a comprehensive exfoliation, targeting both the surface and deeper skin layers. While both AHAs and BHAs are exfoliants, formulating them together in the right concentrations can offer a balanced exfoliation experience that minimises potential irritation.
Complementing this multi-acid complex is 1-percent taurine, this is a new ingredient to the SkinCeuticals range of pharmaceutical-grade ingredients. Described by one study as a very essential amino acid, taurine has been found to hasten cell metabolism, regeneration and healing of damaged skin in an 2021 study examining the benefits of amino acid complex in cosmetic products.
Some of the taurine benefits listed in its findings are:
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Maintaining cell hydration and balancing electrolytes
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Regulating immune system health and antioxidant functions
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Moisturising and nourishing the skin’s surface layer from within
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For Cell Cycle Catalyst, taurine plays a key role in the serum’s ability to enhance cellular energy and vitality, stimulate skin barrier renewal, maintain hydration and prevent trans-epidermal water loss.
What Are the Active Ingredients in SkinCeuticals Cell Cycle Catalyst?
One way that Cell Cycle Catalyst achieves its goal of accelerating cell turnover is through gentle and effective top-to-bottom exfoliation made possible by the collaborative interaction of the active ingredients in its hydroxy acid complex.
Mixing AHAs and BHAs in one formula, like in SkinCeuticals Cell Cycle Catalyst, offers a synergistic approach to skin exfoliation and renewal. This duo works together to not only slough off dead skin on the surface with AHAs but also dives deep into your pores with BHAs to zap excess oil and fight blemishes. It can tackle everything from fine lines and wrinkles to acne and uneven texture, all while keeping your skin glowing and smooth.
The ingredients in the MVP acid complex are:
- 2% Phytic Acid: A gentle AHA with a dual-action mechanism (inhibiting melanin synthesis and melanin oxidation) known to brighten skin, improve dark spots and prevent free radical damage.
- 1% Mandelic Acid: As a larger-sized molecule, mandelic acid penetrates the skin more slowly, allowing you to reap the exfoliating benefits of AHAs without causing inflammation and irritation, making it ideal to use with acne and hyperpigmentation treatment.
- 2% Salicylic Acid: Widely used in skincare, salicylic acid has an established rep when it comes to treating and preventing acne, photodamage and other skin conditions.
- 2% Lactic Acid: An extra-mild AHA that’s safe to use on all skin types and helps improve firmness and texture as well as wrinkles and fine lines.
- 2.5% Glycolic Acid: Aside from facilitating natural exfoliation and surface skin renewal, research also shows that glycolic acid can aid in collagen synthesis.
Rounding up Cell Cycle Catalyst’s list of active ingredients is taurine, a naturally occurring and anti-inflammatory amino acid found in skin that takes on a critical role in maintaining cellular health and metabolism. Just like collagen, taurine levels decrease over time and can lead to visible signs of ageing. Cell Cycle Catalyst’s high concentration of taurine counters this and ensures healthy skin cycling.
Taurine boasts of several impressive benefits that improve skin health. These include:
- Maintaining optimal hydration by balancing the flow of water in and out of cells
- Protecting the skin against free radical damage caused by UV rays, pollution and other external aggressors by acting as a potent antioxidant
- Strengthening the skin’s protective barrier, which improves its ability to retain moisture and defences against irritants and pathogens
- Calming and soothing redness and inflammation for those with sensitive or irritated skin
- Taurine has also been found to play well with other equally powerful anti-aging ingredients, such as retinol, and can even enhance their benefits. Retinol is a powerhouse ingredient known for its ability to promote cell turnover, boost collagen production and tackle signs of aging and acne. However, its potency can sometimes lead to irritation, especially in sensitive skin types. This is where taurine steps in. Its hydrating, soothing and barrier-repairing properties can help mitigate some of the potential side effects of retinol, such as dryness and irritation.
What Are the Skin Benefits of SkinCeuticals Cell Cycle Catalyst?
- Designed to maintain healthy cell cycling and improve barrier function, SkinCeuticals Cell Cycle Catalyst has been clinically proven to deliver the following benefits:
- Promotes cell turnover and healthy skin cycling with taurine
- Improves tone and texture with its AHAs/BHAs multi-acid complex
- Noticeably improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as well as refines discoloration, pores and blemishes
- Strengthens and maintains the skin’s natural barrier
- Highly potent yet gentle formula that suits all skin types and tones
- Daily-use serum that can be added into any morning or night time skincare routine
- Patch test and observe your skin’s response. Apply a small amount of the product on a discreet area of your skin. Pay close attention to how your skin reacts, especially if you’re combining the product with other active ingredients.
- Start slow. Allow your skin to adjust by introducing the product gradually to avoid overwhelming and irritating your skin.
- Use sunscreen. Ingredients like AHAs and BHAs increase the skin’s sensitivity to the sun, so make sure to use broad-spectrum sunscreen and reapply as needed throughout the day.
- Supplement hydration. Some skin types may not react well to exfoliating acids and can experience dryness and irritation. Soothing and hydrating ingredients (like hyaluronic acid, ceramides and niacinamide) support your skin barrier and provide added nourishment after using potent exfoliants.
Cell Cycle Catalyst is safe to use before and after treatment and in-office procedures.
As a targeted serum that accelerates cell turnover and strengthens the skin’s natural barrier, SkinCeuticals Cell Cycle Catalyst can be the gamechanger your skin is looking for. It can amplify the effects of your anti-aging routine and deliver noticeable results in just eight weeks, thanks to its skin-renewing and hydration-boosting functions.
And because SkinCeuticals’ products all come with medical-grade formulas and solid scientific backing, you can be sure you’re using products that do the job and make good on their promises.
Ready to take your skincare routine to the next level?
Click here to discover all the anti-ageing wonders of SkinCeuticals Cell Cycle Catalyst.
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