Bicosomes® interact with the skin through an innovative biomimetic mechanism that imitates the skin’s transportation system, stabilizing and delivering actives into specific layers

About

Bicosome® Technology solves the challenge of skin penetration thanks to a unique double-encapsulated target delivery system. The technology, made with biomimetic non-GMO lipids from natural origin, allows a target and gentle delivery of stabilized actives. They are delivered into specific target layers without damaging the outer layers of the skin. In addition, the technology is acting as an active itself by incorporating lipids in the skin lipid matrix and therefore improving the barrier function. The maintenance of a healthy barrier function is known to be crucial in protecting us from environmental aggressors and maintaining skin homeostasis. How does it work? Bicosome® is composed of an outer lipid vesicle made of biomimetic lipids. Inside, it contains small secondary structures that we call Smart Disks. The biomimetic Smart Disks, with 10-20 nm of size, are produced to target a specific skin layer. In addition, active ingredients are encapsulated inside them, benefiting from a double encapsulation that increases its stability, allowing a controlled target delivery to the specific layers. Hence, when Bicosome® touches the skin, the outer vesicle fuses with the surface of the skin. The fusion moisturizes the outer layers and allows smooth penetration of the Smart Disks through the inter-corneocytes spaces, achieved thanks to its small size. Once they reach the target layer, the Smart Disks detect the physicochemical characteristics of the skin layer (pH, water content, etc.) and start to interact with the naturally present lipids of the skin. Through this interaction, the Disks reshape and integrates into the skin lipid matrix, while the stabilized actives are liberated at the spot to enhance its efficacy. As the Smart Disks are becoming part of the lipid matrix, they will remain there until the natural desquamation process eliminates them, promoting a long-lasting effect in improving the barrier function. Our range of ingredients has the benefits of the beforementioned technology with the additional effects of the selected active ingredients. Hence, we target the principal market needs to develop effective and science-based products for the personal care industry. As an example of a Bicosome® ingredient, Bicosome® FS Natural is a Filling-up System that rebuilds the skin architecture. Bicosome FS is the direct application of Bicosome® Technology, delivering the Smart Disks into the Stratum Corneum. The Smart Disks will become part of the extracellular skin lipid matrix improving the skin barrier. With 99,5% of natural content, the efficacy studies of the ingredient showed an effective penetration and incorporation of the biomimetic lipids, increasing the organizational structure of the lipid matrix. Furthermore, studies performed with volunteers showed an effective improvement of the skin barrier function, elasticity, and firmness during the first week of application. The effects were not only maintained but even improved by 25% one week after stopping the treatment. This long-term effect is possible due to the incorporation of biomimetic lipids into our natural structures. The improvement of the skin barrier will allow a better performance of skin biology even during the week without applications. In addition, Bicosome® FS Natural also repairs damaged skin barriers. Volunteers were exposed to slight chemical aggression and then treated with Bicosome FS. The results confirmed a total recovery of the skin barrier, elasticity, and firmness after two days of application. This effect helps in the protection against external aggressors. However, stress, bad sleep habits, poor nutrition, pollution, UV, Blue Light, and a long list of modern lifestyle stressors may be having a more profound impact on our skin. Chronic exposure to these factors seriously affects the skin, accelerating our natural aging process. To address this issue, Bicoalgae® XT was conceived as an Aging Decelerator slowing down the aging acceleration while embracing the beauty of aging well. Bicoalgae XT, as part of our Bicoalgae Line, is a Skin Superfood that harnesses the power of natural microalgae extracts. Concretely, it delivers stabilized Haematococcus pluvialis extract directly to the viable epidermis, where they can exert at best their function. H. pluvialis is a microalgae species that contains a wide range of carotenes and nutrients that greatly benefit skin biology. Nevertheless, the more relevant active in the extract is the high presence of the carotene Astaxanthin, considered the strongest antioxidant known so far with 65 times with more antioxidant power compared to Vitamin C. We can stabilize such antioxidant power thanks to the double encapsulation of the Bicosome® Technology, preventing any degradation before liberation. The encapsulation of the microalgae extracts also allows avoiding the intense and undesired organoleptic characteristics, like odors and strong colors. Therefore, the H. pluvialis extract with the Bicosome Technology induced a marked reduction in wrinkles and water loss as a sign of barrier function improvement. In addition, volunteers experienced an improvement in skin firmness and increased brightness. Of course, the ingredient increased the antioxidant capacity, with an additional shield effect against pollution particles and blue light radiation. Bicosome also aims for the improvement and recovery of the skin that suffers from different conditions. As an example, we focused our efforts on providing a solution for acne conditions in oily-type skin without compromising the integrity of the barrier function. Targeting the skin microbiome dysbiosis and excess of sebum production, Bicomide® Sebum & Microbiome Control is an ingredient specially designed for oily type skins to reduce the sebum production at its source. Oily skin is prone to develop acne-type conditions, mainly by sebum and dead cell accumulation in the follicle. The clog of the pores by sebum accumulation increases the follicle anaerobic conditions. Both the high presence of lipids and anaerobic conditions favours microbiome dysbiosis, concretely inducing a hyperproliferation of Cutibacterium acnes. In addition, the consequent inflammatory processes will further disrupt the skin barrier, worsening the state of dysbiosis and the severity of the lesions. Thanks to the reduction of the sebum amount induced by Bicomide®, the anaerobic conditions in the follicle decreased, also decreasing the population of C. acnes. Bicosome® Technology used in Bicomide® also improves the skin barrier function, favouring a healthy state of the skin biology that also helps in the recovering skin microbiome equilibrium by natural processes. Hence, Bicomide® targets not only the sebum production but also the natural rebalancing of the skin microbiome. The beforementioned claims were supported by in-vivo clinical studies performed with volunteers that presented acne-type conditions. In addition, it was also showed to reduce the number of pores and prevent new acne lesions. Participants noticed a general cleansing of the face and a reduction of the greasy appearance. Other already commercially available products of our portfolio that contain Bicosome Technology are: • Bicowhite®: Even skin tone by delivering five active ingredients to target five different processes associated with hyperpigmentation. • Bicotene® Complex: Delivery of stable B-carotene into the epidermis. Prevents photoaging and boosts the antioxidant capacity of the skin. A biological sun protector. • Bicoalgae ω3®: An inflammaging pro-resolver, induce endogenous resolution pathways of inflammaging by delivering stable microalgae extract rich in omega-3 fatty acids. • Bicohair® HP: Adaptation of the Bicosome® Technology to target the hair fibre. It adheres to the fibre with high efficacy and delivers lipids to protect and repair from thermal and chemical damage. • Bicohair® UP: Bicohair® Urban Pollution adheres to the hair to prevent the deposition of pollutants particles in the hair. Prevents the degradation of protein and colour loss.

Key Benefits

Therefore, Bicosome® Technology by itself provides: • Gentle penetration without damaging the skin. • Stabilization of actives even during penetration. • Target delivery of actives to a specific skin layer. • Refilling and reinforcement of the skin lipid structures. • Maintenance and repair of the skin barrier function. • Reduction of Irritation. • Long-lasting effects. • Claims supported by efficacy studies. Besides the effect of the technology, our ingredients have the extra benefit of the active ingredient, enhancing our biology and addressing common skin conditions. Hence with all our ingredients, the skin barrier is being reinforced and the general state of the skin improved. For that, Bicosome® products are also suitable for sensitive and irritated skin, including our options for acne and skin tone evening. Suitable for making creams, serums, gels, and other final product forms, lines with Bicosome can also benefit from our high natural content, vegan, and environmentally free statements. A science-based approach for product lines with complete efficacy studies to support the marketed claims. In addition, formulation with Bicosome products is easy and tolerates a wide range of pH. With a recommended dosage of 1-3%, Bicosome® products only need to be incorporated the products at the final stage of the formulation, upon cooling down, and it will be easily integrated into the formulation.

Applications

Bicosome® products are advanced high-functioning skin & hair care ingredients targeted for the premium personal care market. Suitable for the conception and development of product lines that focused on the main market claims of the industry, Bicosome® ingredients can be used as the main active for lines claiming: • Anti-ageing / well-ageing • Refilling effect • Anti-pollution creams • Sun protection / Anti-photoaging • Even skin tone / Reduction of hyperpigmented spots • Anti-acne / Reduction of greasy appearance. • Blue light shields • Anti-inflammaging • Reduction of irritation • Etc. Besides, our hair care line also allows the formulation of serums that protects the hair from the extreme damage of the thermal and chemical treatments commonly used in hair care, and that prevent the deposition of contaminants and pollution particles. Thanks to the delivery of lipids and complete adherence of the ingredient onto the fibre, it ensures complete protection and repair of the cuticle, restoring the water content. In addition to our skincare line, Bicosome® Technology was adapted to develop two hair care ingredients. Bicohair® HP protects and repairs the hair from the extreme damage of the thermal and chemical treatments commonly used in hair care. Bicohair® UP prevents the deposition of pollution particles on the hair and maintains the protein structure. It works by delivering lipids to the fibre along with high adherence to the external part of the hair. The proven efficacy of the ingredients makes them suitable for a wide range of hair care lines, including products targeted to professional haircare businesses. Of course, all the before mentioned claims are supported by efficacy studies, both in vitro and in vivo.

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