Dr. Loretta Ciraldo, CosMedical’s Founder and Formulator, is in love with Ectoin®, a new ingredient featured in Radiant Shield SPF 40. Here’s what makes Ectoin® so special.
What is Ectoin®?
Ectoin® is an extremolyte — a chemical that sustains organisms in extreme environments, such as salt or acid lakes and deep-sea heat vents. It’s an amino acid derivative and small molecule that’s recently drawn the attention of dermatologists and aestheticians for its revitalizing properties.
In skin, Ectoin® first binds with water, forming Ectoin®-hydro complexes. These complexes then support, protect, and stabilize skin cell membranes, boosting the skin barrier and its defense and repair mechanisms while calming inflammation and reducing oxidative stress.
What are the benefits of Ectoin®?
Clinical studies have supported Ectoin®’s remarkable benefits in vivo.
Sustained Hydration
Ectoin®-hydro complexes help reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL) by strengthening the skin barrier. In a clinical study, Ectoin® doubled skin hydration in less than 12 days — and amazingly, skin stayed hydrated for an additional seven days after the last application of Ectoin®.
Alongside hydration, Ectoin® has also been shown to improve brightness, smoothness, and the appearance of lines and wrinkles.
Comprehensive Protection
It’s no surprise that Ectoin® has powerful protective benefits, considering that it allows cells to survive in extreme environments.
In clinical studies, Ectoin® demonstrated impressive global protective abilities, including:
- 100% protection of Langerhans cells from UV irradiation. Langerhans cells are highly sensitive cells and a part of the skin’s immune system, recognizing antigens and triggering antibody responses.
- After just five days of application, Ectoin® reduced damage from cigarette smoke pollution by 48%. Ectoin® has also been shown to protect from both PM2.5 and PM0.1 (fine and ultra-fine) particle pollution.
- Ectoin® dramatically reduced damage from UVA, UVB, visible, and IR light sources while protecting Langerhans cells and increasing cell’s heat-shock protective response.
Hydrocortisone-Like Soothing
Ectoin® has anti-inflammatory properties, making it great for soothing skin. 1% Ectoin® showed almost identical soothing properties to 0.25% hydrocortisone over a one-week treatment period. Ectoin® doesn’t have any of hydrocortisone’s side-effects and is a safe and approved treatment for inflamed and atopic skin.
Why is Ectoin® in Radiant Shield?
Radiant Shield SPF 40 is a paradigm-defying sunscreen. We wanted to offer patients a sunscreen that they would love wearing without compromising on protection. We searched for ingredients that could offer light-protection, hydration, soothing, and a safe profile — and Ectoin® was the perfect match.
By combining Ectoin® with Lipochroman®, the strongest antioxidant on the market, 17% zinc oxide, and a botanical blend, Radiant Shield offers comprehensive protection against every source of environmental skin damage and aging. It defends against UVA, UVB, visible light, IR, microparticle pollution, and dryness with a soothing, hydrating, and brightening mineral formula.
Besides protection, Radiant Shield’s hydration sets it apart from almost every SPF ever created — and that’s largely thanks to Ectoin®, which other SPFs simply haven’t discovered yet.
Read more about Radiant Shield here.
Is Ectoin® good for post-procedure skin?
Absolutely! No other ingredient on the market today offers the same protective profile as Ectoin®, which defends, hydrates, and soothes by restoring and supporting the skin barrier. It provides everything skin needs while healing after a procedure. For this reason, we included Radiant Shield in our Post Procedure System, to help patients enhance results and minimize downtime with a protective, hydrating regimen.
Learn more about Post Procedure System here.
