Skin Barrier Support
Your skin barrier consists of layers of dead skin cells with gaps between them. Healthy fats and lipids create a seal between skin cells, which helps form a strong skin barrier that helps protect against insults. They also lock in moisture.
People with sensitive skin tend to have a weaker skin surface barrier, leaving them more susceptible to pesky irritants, pollution, and allergens that can irritate the skin. Experts at Native have identified naturally derived ceramides and added them to The Native Sensitive Series Collection that help replenish the seal in your skin’s moisture barrier, making it stronger.
Ceramides are one of the lipid molecules (fats) naturally found in the stratum corneum. They make up about 50% of the skin barrier by weight and are essential for maintaining healthy, hydrated, and resilient skin, by preventing your skin from leaking moisture and sealing gaps to shield from external irritation.
We have assessed our ceramides in an in vitro assay and showed a significant inhibition to PGE2 activation and reduction in TRIP V1 activity and found that our naturally derived ceramides both protect and soothe the skin. Additionally, when in combination with our total body wash and hand & body lotion formulas, we observe skin barrier strengthening.
Experts at Native have identified naturally derived ceramides and added them to The Native Sensitive Series Collection that help replenish the seal in your skin’s moisture barrier, making it stronger.
To learn more about our ‘protection’ findings:
The Native Sensitive Series used liposome testing to mimic and help learn about how the outer layer of the skin behaves. Liposomes can be thought of as tiny bubbles made of fats that behave similarly to the outer layer of our skin. Liposomes have two parts: one part that likes water and the other part that does not. When in a solution or liquid, the water-loving portion (hydrophilic) faces the water, while the water-avoiding portion (hydrophobic) is trapped inside.
The liposome model is then treated with a particular product. If more liposomes break apart when exposed to a product, it means that the skin’s outer layer is not as strong and can let things through more easily.
We exposed a liposome model to a negative control, and to the control + Native Sensitive Series ceramides. When treated with negative control alone, there was complete liposome disruption (as expected). The model treated with the Native Sensitive Series ceramides + negative control, had significantly less disruption than the negative control alone. This means that the Native Sensitive Series ceramides provided a protecting benefit, shielding the skin surface barrier’s integrity from the negative control’s full disruption.
To learn more about our ‘soothing’ findings:
PGE2
Prostaglandin E 2 (PGE2) is a potent lipid mediator produced in the skin that acts as a central conductor of inflammation, tissue repair, and aging. It drives redness and swelling by recruiting immune cells, while also promoting chronic inflammation in conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Reducing PGE2 helps decrease redness, inflammation, and cellular dysfunction. When testing via a published in vitro assay for PGE2 our ceramides independently--as well as in our Body Lotion and Body Wash-- showed significant reduction in PGE2 activity. This indicates that our products aid in soothing skin.
TRPV1
The TRPV1 receptor, also known as the capsaicin receptor, is important to how we feel pain. It reacts to very hot things and to capsaicin, which is the molecule that makes chili peppers spicy! When this receptor is more active, it can lead to more feelings of pain.
We looked at how much this receptor was used when skin was treated with our naturally derived ceramides. We found via in vitro assay that our ceramides from our Native Sensitive Series + an antagonist, the amount of TRPV1 receptor activity decreased significantly by 23% vs. just the antagonist alone. This result means that the ceramides helped reduce how much the receptor was working, leading to a skin soothing benefit.
Additionally, in the assay, our ceramides by themselves didn’t activate the TRPV1 receptor at all, meaning the ceramides alone didn’t cause pain signals to be sent out.
To learn more about our ‘strengthening’ findings:
TEWL
Trans epidermal water loss (TEWL) measures how much water is evaporating from our skin. This measure helps us to understand how well the skin is protecting itself. If more water is escaping, it means the skin barrier is weaker.
We used the TEWL measure to test our Sensitive Series hand and body lotion against placebo, or no treatment, and against the leading dermatologist recommended brand. These tests were completed after 7, and 15 days plus 4-day deprivation of product use by consumers.
At all intervals tested, our Sensitive Series hand and body lotion was statistically significantly better at reducing TEWL vs. untreated.