Don't Trust Claims That Liposomes in Your Beauty Products Can Work Wonders

Experts advise buyers of beauty products not to trust the claims that liposomes can carry active ingredients into the skin and work wonders.

Liposomes are small fat capsules, often added to beauty products. According to the beauty industry liposomes are capable of transporting active ingredients deep into the skin and release the active ingredients so that they can alter the skin´s structure by rejuvenating and smoothing the skin.

About Skin
Skin types can range from oily to dry, extreme dryness accompanied by rashes and itching can often denote the presence of a skin problem or skin disorder.

Research from University of Southern Denmark now shows that liposomes are not capable of transporting themselves deep into the skin, and thus they are not capable of transporting active ingredients deep into the skin.

"We have shown that liposomes are destroyed before they enter the skin or very soon after. When a liposome is destroyed, it spills its cargo of active ingredients. Liposomes are therefore not efficient carriers for transdermal delivery", says professor Luis Bagatolli from Membrane Biophysics and Biophotonics Group/MEMPHYS Center for Biomembrane Physics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark.

The researchers used the technique RICS (Raster Imaging Correlation Spectroscopy) to investigate how liposomes labeled with two fluorescent colors move once they are applied to the skin.

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"Concerted movement of the two colors should provide evidence that the liposomes are intact when they reach their destination under the skin. We did not observe concerted movement after applying the liposomes to the skin", says Bagatolli.

Previous research done with other techniques has indicated that liposomes are efficient carriers."Previous research done with a different technique provide some hints, but not conclusive evidence, that liposomes are capable of penetrating the skin. Therefore some scientists have concluded that liposomes are efficient carriers. Now for the first time we have conclusive evidence that this is not the case", explains Luis Bagatolli.

Dry Skin / Xerosis - Symptom Evaluation
Dry skin a result in inadequate hydration of the skin. This could be either due to a reduced intake of fluids or faster evaporation following loss of oily layer on the skin.

He now advises buyers of beauty products to not trust the claims that liposomes can carry active ingredients into the skin.

Professor Bagatolli is an expert in biological membranes.

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The skin self examination means checking one’s own skin for any visible abnormal growths or unusual change in its continuity and appearance.

"The human skin is designed to prevent external components to enter the human body. It is natural, that it also prevents liposomes to enter", he explains.

Source-Eurekalert