April 9th, 2009
NexDerma® Naturalift MD: Advanced Face Lift Therapy is based on the most up-to-date science and medical information available. We used the research of thousands of independent physicians and scientists from hundreds of prestigious universities and research centers — centers such as Harvard University, The Johns Hopkins University, the Cleveland Clinic, Stanford University, the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and the Mayo Clinic — so that you can learn how to safely and effectively reverse the signs of aging. We know that, after you use this product line, you’ll love the beneficial effects it has on your skin.
Dexpanthenol (Vitamin B5)
Moisturizer. Dexpanthenol maintains the softness and elasticity of the skin. Some of that benefit may be from its ability to draw and hold onto water (hydroscopic property).
Humectant. Dexpanthenol functions as a humectant. In just seven days of treatment with a lotion containing dexpanthenol, the hydration (water content) of the stratum corneum (outermost surface layer of the skin) was increased and the amount of ongoing water loss through the skin was reduced.
Grape Seed Extract
Grape seed extract antioxidant protection leads to a thicker and healthier epidermal layer. The topical use of grape seed extracts and other antioxidants:
“…induced morphological changes leading to a thicker epidermal layer providing evidence of the positive effects of the treatment on the viability of the keratinocytes after UVA irradiation.”
Lecithin (with Phosphatidylcho-line)
Lecithin containing 35% phosphatidylcholine serve as a carrier of other molecules. Because of their unique lipid composition which binds to water soluble molecules, they bring other molecules into the skin. For example, one study used the drug molecule diazepam with lecithin. When applied to the skin, it was almost as effective as if the drug had been intravenously injected into the blood stream. In another study, lecithin and phosphatidylcholine increased the skin penetration of medication by three times. The medical term for this is trans-dermal delivery system.
Create liposomes. Other studies documented the capacity to enhance skin penetration by other molecules. These trapping structures with water and water- and fat-soluble molecules are often called liposomes. The size of these fat-water microscopic droplets are as small as one micron (one-millionth of a meter).
Note: Liposomes are micellar structures.
It is believed that the unique water and fat solubility sides of these molecules and the liposomes are responsible for the remarkable ability to pass through bi-lipid layers of the skin and aid the penetration of so many molecules essential for the skin health, in a correctly formulated lotion.
Combats atherosclerosis. In an experiment on a strain of rabbits bred to develop severe atherosclerosis:
“After the topical application of phosphatidylcholine, increases of choline-containing phospholipids in blood were observed (it was absorbed through the skin into the blood), reaching a plateau in 24-48 hours. There were significant reductions in serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in the treated animals 2-3 weeks after the treatment. Atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic arch were clearly less severe in the animals repeatedly treated with topical phosphatidylcholine.”
Magnesium-L-Ascorbyl-Phosphate
Magnesium-L-ascorbyl-phosphate, the best topical form of vitamin C, prevents the aging of skin, increasing the longevity of skin cells by 150%. Topical use of magnesium-L-ascorbyl-phosphate aids the survival of telomeres, allowing 150% more cell divisions. The longevity of keratinacytes is “… achieved by a slowdown of age-dependent shortening of telomeric DNA.”
Magnesium-L-ascorbyl-phosphate is the safest, most effective and stable form of vitamin C.
In essence, “… telomeres suffer from fewer DNA lesions due to the continuous and thorough repression of intracellular reactive oxygen species which was realized by magnesium ascorbyl-phosphate that exerted an antioxidant ability more persistent than ascorbic acid itself.”
pH & Ascorbic Acid. Ascorbic acid must be kept at a pH of 3.5 or it becomes very unstable. The pH of skin is 6.6, 1000 times less acidic than pH 3.5. The pH scale is logarithmic: for every whole number change, there is a 10-fold change in acidity. To go from a pH of 3.5 to 6.6, multiply 10*10*10=1,000. Ascorbic acid at its most stable pH (3.5) can burn sensitive skin and cause blindness. Magnesium-L-ascorbyl-2-phosphate does not produce the cytotoxic ascorbyl radical during oxidative degradation, unlike ascorbic acid.
With the use of magnesium-L-ascorbyl-phosphate:
“…[t]he cellular lifespan of cultivation of human skin epidermis keratinocytes was shown to be extended up to 150%. The lifespan-extended cells were prevented from senescence-induced symptoms. …[They] retained young cell morphological aspects such as thick and compact shape and intense attachment to the culture substratum even upon advanced population doubling levels, whereas other non-extended cells looked thin or fibrous shape and large size upon reaching lower population doubling levels.”
Stimulates synthesis of collagen. A thorough research study analyzed the effect of magnesium-L-ascorbyl-phosphate on skin fibroblast cells and noted that:
“The transcriptional rate (rate of collagen synthesis) in these cells reach the maximum after 40 hours of treatment, and at that time it was 3 to 4 times higher than that of the control cells cultured in the absence of magnesium-L-ascorbyl-phosphate.”
In another study, magnesium-L-ascorbyl-phosphate was shown to also stimulate the synthesis of collagen as well as fibroblast “… cell growth 4-fold.” Magnesium-L-ascorbyl-phosphate also accelerated pro-collagen processing to collagen and deposition of collagen in the cell layer.
“Among the glycosaminoglycogens, a major component of extracellular matrix, deposition of sulfated forms is increased by the additive.”
Additional studies have also documented that “… magnesium-L-ascorbyl-phosphate stimulated collagen synthesis of these fibroblast cells.”
Ascorbic acid stimulates collagen synthesis, but it’s too unstable to be used in any cosmetic preparation unless it is 1000 times more acidic than the skin. At a pH of 3.5, it can cause severe eye damage and blindness.
“The magnesium salt of ascorbyl-2-phosphate was found to be equivalent to ascorbic acid in these assays, while the sodium salt required at least a ten-fold greater concentration to produce the same effect as ascorbic acid.”
Additional researchers also confirm that “… magnesium-L-ascorbyl-2-phosphate is a very stable derivative of vitamin C that may be easily used various types of cosmetic products.”
Ascorbic acid is more than 1000 times more acidic than the skin. It kills skin cells, markedly shortening the Hayflick Limit of the skin. If the pH is neutralized, ascorbic acid would be unstable and lose its potency. Magnesium-L-ascorbyl-phosphate is stable and potent at a safe pH level.
In one experiment, ophthalmologists applied lye to the corneas of rabbits. All the corneas were burned.
“The corneas were then examined histologically. Burned stroma showed no toluidine blue staining, indicating a loss of glycosaminoglycan. Magnesium-L-ascorbyl-2-phosphate reduced the size of the unstained area compared to the control. …[t]hese observations support the theory that magnesium-L-ascorbyl-2-phosphate may have a therapeutic role in the repair of corneal alkali burns.”
Combats liver spots. Liver spots develop over time from the chronic effects of sunlight exposure. Magnesium-L-ascorbyl-phosphate was studied in a split-face clinical protocol and documented to:
“… significantly [reduce] the total area of hyperpigmented spots after one month of treatment compared to the vehicle, with no significant variation in facial skin color tone in the areas outside the hyperpigmented spots. The results of the visual grading were consistent with those obtained by image analysis. The total area of hyperpigmented spots 6 months after discontinuing the treatment returned to pretreatment levels. The reproducibility of these clinical results was demonstrated in three follow-up studies.”
Easily absorbed. Additionally, magnesium-L-ascorbyl-phosphate was shown to absorb easily into the skin, unlike ascorbic acid which is very unstable in solution: “… ascorbic acid is quickly oxidized and decomposed in aqueous solution and thus is not generally useful as a depigmenting agent.”
Resveratrol
Combats atherosclerosis. Resveratrol decreases LDL cholesterol oxidation, helping protect against the development of atherosclerosis. Researchers at the University of Connecticut in 1999 documented that:
“…[r]esveratrol and proanthrocyanidins are equally effective in reducing myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury, which suggests that these red wine polyphenolic antioxidants play a crucial role in cardio-protection.”
Resveratrol also helps prevent thickening of cells lining arteries caused by an enzyme that stimulates high blood pressure.
Combats cell death. Resveratrol prevents cellular death: “… [r]esveratrol has the potential to prevent oxidative stress-induced cell death.”
Titanium Dioxide
A recent study compared titanium dioxide against methoxycinnamate and para-aminobenzoate (palmitate O). Titanium dioxide gave 100% protection against immune suppression; methoxycinnamate performed inadequately, while para-aminobenzoate actually worsened immune suppression!
Ursolic Acid
For ages, folk medicine has been used to cure skin infections. Ursolic acid has been shown to be a potent anti-bacterial agent: bacteriostatic and bactericidal against many skin damaging bacterial germs including staphylococcus, streptococcus, escherichia coli, proteus mirabilis, and bacillus subtilis, as well as the skin fungus microsporum gypseum. The minimal inhibitory concentration that prevents their growth was only 128 millionths of a gram, and the minimal bactericidal concentration was only a few times higher. This is exceptional power. In addition it had strong anti-inflammation fighting strength, which was equal to the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin, without its dangers.
Vitamin E (Natural Alpha-Tocopherol and Tocotrienol)
Topically applied, only the natural forms of vitamin E — alpha-tocopherol and tocotrienol — effectively reduce skin roughness, the length of facial lines, and the depth of wrinkles. Topically-applied vitamin E increases hydration of the stratum corneum and increases its water-binding capacity. Alpha-tocopherol reduces the harmful collagen-destroying enzyme collagenase, which unfortunately increases in aging skin.
Zinc Oxide
It has been well documented that UV-A and UV-B exposure can break the strands of DNA. But how would the addition of zinc after UV exposure prevent DNA damage? Not by blocking UV, obviously, or by stimulating a protective enzyme. Instead, it appears that zinc inhibits the enzyme endonuclease that is responsible for fragmenting DNA. In addition, zinc oxide is not irritating, unlike zinc sulfate. Zinc oxide also aids in the growth of the epidermis.