Protective and Regenerative Anti-Pollution Efficacy of a Plant Oil-Based Day and Night Cream: Investigated by a Novel Approach to Reveal the Impact of Pollutants on Epidermal Barrier Integrity and Lipid Matrix

Abstract

In the wake of ever-increasing environmental pollution, human skin in the modern urban world is exposed to increased levels of harmful environmental pollutants. Many studies have shown that these pollutants can weaken the epidermal skin barrier and thus facilitate the penetration of these substances into the skin. An important goal of modern skin care against harmful environmental influences should therefore be to protect and strengthen the epidermal barrier and to repair occurring damage quickly and efficiently. With this in mi nd, in the present study we investigated what damage cigarette smoke causes to the epidermal barrier and 1 ) whether the regular application of a O/W emulsion (Day Cream) can protectively strengthen the epidermal barrier against environmental damage and 2 ) whether a cigarette smoke-ind uced disruption of the epidermal barrier is restored faster and better by the regular application of a another O/W emulsion (Night Cream) than in product-untreated skin. The two products are slightly different in plant-oil, active ingredient composition and texture. Firstly, the study has shown that the Lipbarvis ? method is s uitable for measuring the effect of cigarette smoke, in contrast to conventional biophysical measurement methods (transepidermal water loss, skin hydration). Secondly, both products were able to improve skin barrier function in the corresponding test scenario. This was demonstrated for both test products by a significantly reduced TEWL, significantly increased skin hydrat ion and significantly improved length of the lipid lamellae in the int er cellular space, as well as the protective effect of the day cream on the epidermal skin barrier and the regenerative properties of the tested night crea m.