Heliopure® Skin

• Photoprotects the skin
• Provides an optimal skin barrier function
• Maintains the 3D skin architecture

• Exposure to the sun is the primary harmful factor of the exposome and the main contributor to premature skin aging. UVA, which represents 95% of the UV reaching the skin, and UVB cause deleterious consequences on the epidermis and dermis, leading to premature signs of aging such as wrinkles, solar lentigo, and sagging skin, known as photoaging.
• Intense, chronic, and prolonged sun exposure generates oxidation and inflammation phenomena that initiate a chain reaction in all skin layers. In the epidermis, the first line of defense against UVA and UVB, the UV rays cause DNA damage and inflammation, affecting essential cellular functions and leading to premature aging. UV are thus known to directly affect the skin barrier function and cause, as long term effect, pigmentation disorders.
• In the dermis, UVA primarily alters the extracellular matrix, causing damage to cellular components, disrupting cell functioning, and contributing to progressive loss of elasticity and suppleness.
• The main concern is to protect the skin from the exposome, especially UV rays, to improve skin health and beauty. Ensuring the integrity of the skin layers is key to preventing photoaging.

Phaeodactylum tricornutum is a microalgae belonging to the largest group of phytoplankton called diatoms. It is found in oceans and seas around the world and is recognized as a key organism in controlling marine resources and predicting climate change. Phaeodactylum tricornutum produces an orange-brown pigment called fucoxanthin, belonging to the family of carotenoids. Although also found in certain brown algae, fucoxanthin is nearly 100 times more concentrated in the microalgae. This essential molecule has two major functions: photosynthesis and protection against oxidative stress. Fucoxanthin works with chlorophyll as a complex capable of widening the spectrum of light absorption, thus maximizing photosynthesis and ensuring optimal growth. Its unique chemical structure gives it exceptional antioxidant power, trapping ROS and protecting the diatom's cellular components against oxidative stress.

P. tricornutum and skin shared similarities: both need UV to ensure vital functions but also are vulnerable to oxidative stress. Fucoxanthin absorbs photons in a wide blue-green spectral range. It is also able to scavenge free radicals and reduce oxidative stress. At the skin level, fucoxanthin can help protect from UVinduced damage leading to skin aging. Researchers from Solabia Group have been bio-inspired by these properties to create HelioPure® Skin that protects the skin against UV damage and face photoaging.