... I suppose this must be what all the American 35+ year olds must be thinking as they rush out to buy Christian Dior's latest product on Macy's shelves on the weekend (Sharon Stone is the advertising model for "Capture" chosen by LVMH).
COSMETICS MOVE ASIDE
The product -which sounds like a piece of sexy photographic equipment or imaging software- is called Capture 60/80 XP and claims to have "lassoed the power of adult stem cells to help repair wrinkles". (For the interested Asian clients, Christian Dior plans to launch it internationally at the start of 2008)
The product was researched and developed by researchers at the Dior innovation center and the researchers at LVMH in collaboration with Professor of dermatology Carlo Pincelli, who heads the research unit at the laboratory of cutaneous biology in the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in Italy. It contains a collection of treatment creams and serums for the face and eyes which target women in the 35+ age group who are trying to escape the clutches of skin aging by protecting their adult stem cells in the skin, making them more active and thus reduce the formation or deepening of wrinkles.
The article states that the company's patented "Stemsome" technology and TP-Vityl ingredient is included in the Capture cream's formula and works on a time release system to protect basal cells and the skin's bionectin scaffold which keeps the collagen in place.
HOW MUCH FOR OVER THE COUNTER REGENERATIVE COSMETICS?
The Capture R 60/80 XP collection includes 30- and 50-ml. bottles of serum, which retail for 80.90 euros and 106 euros, or $119.40 and $156.45 at current exchange, respectively. There are also 30- and 50-ml. jars of cream in a light texture and similarly sized jars of cream in a rich texture for 57.80 euros and 86.30 euros, or $85.30 and $127.40, respectively. The 15-ml. eye cream sells for 53 euros, or $78.23. Prices are for France.
In comparison, StemLife stores cord blood stem cells for the equivalent of 5 jars of cream.
While Dior executives would not discuss numbers, industry sources estimated that Capture R 60/80 XP will generate $37 million in wholesale business during its first 12 months worldwide.
SUPPORT FOR STEM CELL INDUSTRY
Interestingly, the article states that some of the proceeds from the sale of Capture will go to Standford University's adult stem cell research funds, which might be a contribution to the Institute of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
It's been known for years that by merely applying cosmetics, women can make themselves more attractive and appear youthful, but can we really nourish our stem cells and prevent them from dying using a cream kept in our cosmetic case? I'll have to ask someone who's going to use the creams. Well, I guess if there's any bit of skin on our body that is most exposed to UV rays and all other environmental insults, it would be our faces. Maybe I'll buy it for a friend as a present and see if those wrinkles do indeed disappear...
Posts
5 comments:
I bought the cream and it`s really good, however I´m having second thoughts about it only because stem cell research is still a new thing amongst cientists and is not yet well known their relationship with cancer. Can anyone assure us that there no risk at all to our health to apply this treatment on our skins?
Hi, thanks for your comment!
You mentioned that you bought the cream and used it... out of curiosity how long have you been using it and in what way do you quantify or qualify it being really good?
While you may have read that stem cells might be linked to cancer, the big C can happen to any cell that has an error in its pathway and decides to divide uncontrollably. Most stem cells behave themselves quite well in our bodies and play an equally important role in the immune system, policing any erroneous cells and prevent the formation of cancer. Hence, protecting the good stem cells may also be something we might all wish to do to keep the "bad cells" in check.
I posed your question to Professor Pincelli who was cited as the main driver (and the President of the European Society for Dermatological Research) behind the concept and basis of the cream's effectiveness. He wrote back to me with this reply on the CD cream which should reassure you.
Professor Pincelli:
"The risk of cancer development is zero just because the cream does not stimulate stem cells, but protects its niche and preserves this microenvironment, thus preventing loss of stem cell number and function."
And if you'd like some further details on the cream, here's more information that I found online:
Stem cells are essential to healthy, youthful skin, with a 29 per cent loss evident in wrinkled areas. Studies have shown that ageing and damage from UV rays and pollution cause a decrease in stem-cell production. Collaborating with LVMH laboratories, Pincelli and his team have been studying stem-cell damage and have identified key ingredients with the ability to protect the cells from external aggression. The resulting product is Dior's new moisturising range, Capture R60/80 XP (from £39). In lab tests, skin samples collected from cosmetic-surgery patients showed more stem cells in the areas where cream had been applied. This doesn't mean Capture R60/80 XP is able to create additional cells, but that it has a significant ability to protect existing ones from damage and deterioration. 'More studies into the isolation of stem cells will enable greater applications for skincare that can effectively preserve the cells' powers of self-renewal,' says Pincelli. 'That power is absolutely vital for epidermal regeneration and for maintaining the skin's youthful appearance'. Dior is quick to point out that it is impossible to incorporate live materials into a skincare product, so we are unlikely to see creams containing stem cells themselves.
Hope that helps :)
I have not tried the Dior cream yet but i have been using another cream which promises rejuvenation of the skin using the technology of stem cells. The cream is called Amatokin by Voss Laboratories Salt Lake City. Amatokin is so expensive, Singapore dollars 369. Been using the cream for about 4 months now. So far, no significant improvement on the fine lines on my forehead but i find that it has shown some good effect on the lines on my neck. The lines on my neck were previously much deeper and creasier but after using the Amatokin, the lines are significantly less visible now. what do you think? i plan to try the Dior cream soon.
Hi there again,
It is interesting and very positive you feel that the Amatokin cream is helping with the lines on your neck. You mentioned that the Amatokin cream is expensive, how much cream in weight to you get for 369 SGD and in contrast, how much did you pay for the Dior cream?
It would be great for others to know if you could relate your past skincare experience (what you used to use before this) and how these creams compare to one another. Please do share your experience with us.
I haven't found out much about Amatokin yet, but I'll write about it in the next blog entry.
Hi, thanks for your reply.
I'm more than willing to share my skin care rituals and secrets.
Amatokin comes in only one size - 30ml. I have not bought the Dior cream yet because I'm also using another anti aging cream called StriVectin stretch mark cream.
I find that Amatokin cannot be used by itself as a moisturiser. So i only use Amatokin sparingly on the wrinkle plagued areas such as the forehead and neck.
I then top up StriVectin as a night moisturiser.
Beauty is skin deep but beauty comes with high price and much commitment. I am extremely committed to my skin regimes morning afternoon night 24hrs/7days a week/365 days a year.
Here's my regime:
Morning - wake up, brush my teeth then splash my face with cold water. I read it in Reader's Digest many yrs ago that cold water will improve the texture of the skin as it can help naturally tighten the skin pores. Do not use cleanser in the morning as i have dry combination skin.
Use a milk toner (Dior), Amatokin then an SPF 20 (Dior) daytime moisturiser. to further protect my skin, i then use a daily UV sunscreen SPF from Dr. Brandt. check out www.drbrandtskincare.com
afternoon - use Shu Uemura deep sea water spray to rehydrate my skin. also use oil blotter.
night - deep cleansing using Shu Uemura cleansing oil. double cleanse the face with a water based cleanser also from Shu Uemura. Milk toner, amatokin, eye cream (Dior Prestige range) then StriVectin cream.
twice a week at night i will do a mask after the deep cleansing. Once a month i get a facial done at a spa.
However i do not just totally depend on creams and beauty products to upkeep my skin. I take care by drinking lots of water (i dont drink coffee at all) and do not eat deep fried food (mainly cos i dont like the taste also). So i believe its a combination of consistent facial regime, healthy eating/drinking habits, good beauty products and genes that leads to good skin.
My question to you : Many expecting parents are storing their new born's cord blood stem cells now. Can these stem cells be used for facial rejuvenation and anti aging for the parents?
Post a Comment