As you all know the smallest element alive is the cell. As it couldn’t be any other way, our largest protective organ, the skin is formed by cells. That’s why it’s so key to learn a little bit about how these cells work. If we do, we will eventually learn how to take care of our skin as a whole and fight its ageing.

Cells are like little factories, each of them has different functions like: develop tissue, build up defences,
protect from the sun, store nutrients for future needs, etc.

Cell ageing is the main factor behind skin ageing. But, what does cell ageing mean? Does it mean that cells get wrinkles? No, it’s not quite so simple. A cell ageing is a cell not performing as it should, a cell that is damaged and not able to regenerate itself, a cell that loses its structure or form and eventually dies
(apoptosis).

This is a natural part of the skin cycle, a cell dying is much healthier than a cell doing an irregular job. But
when we’re talking about not ageing or even rejuvenating, it’s important to keep in mind that allowing cells to do their job is key.

Let’s get a more accurate understanding of what are cells exactly. I apologise beforehand for the simplified language I’m going to use to make the explanation a little more understandable.

Cells have three basic parts:

1st The cellular membrane, which is the exterior, or if you will, the skin of the cell.

2nd A liquid intermediate zone called cytoplasm.

3d The nucleus, which we could compare to the brain of the cell, and that’s where genes come from, the
DNA where all the genetic information needed for its survival, growth and well functioning.

There are many kinds of genes, each of them has a specific function.

The DNA of a gene contains the specific instructions, (just like a cooking recipe) to create proteins. Do you remember when we were talking about the barrier function and the proteins acting as glue? Proteins are the main component of our body. There are many kinds of proteins and with them get formed parts like our teeth, bones, muscles, blood, hair and our skin. The right genetic functioning will determine the cell’s youth, and then the cell’s youth will determine the youth of our skin.

Ageing is intimately related to an accumulation of damage to our cells, that’s why it comes in handy that our cells come with integrated reparation mechanisms. This is why to keep a younger looking skin, we have to protect ourselves from outside dangers (the sun, pollution…), but also help our skin cells to improve their reparation and regeneration mechanisms.

We have already seen cells not working properly when their genes don’t work properly when needed. Why does a gene malfunction? Fundamentally for two causes: Structure damage (Genetic factor), external factor (epigenetic).

Ageing depends on three determining factors: The genetic one on 30%, the lifestyle on 50% and the way we cope with stress another 20%. These two last are known as epigenetic factors.

With time we accumulate a series of minor modifications that slowly undermine the proper functioning of
cells. Our genes lose their capacity to respond to their necessities and thus, to repair the damages.

Understanding the language behind all these little genetic changes and behaviours that rule our organisms on a micro-level, is key to help against ageing.

The olive tree and skin rejuvenation.

Throughout years we’ve studied from a close distance the biomolecules of the olive tree and their capacity to promote the proper functioning of our cells. Very recently, thanks to the advances in epigenetics we could test its efficiency in this new parcel. The results were truly inspiring to us and today we can announce that Elixir de Nuage has an ingredient that’s capable of reversing the epigenetic damage to the point of rejuvenating the cell.

We can say that these ingredients help the cell regain its natural balance. They reprogram their proper
functioning, improve their vitality, activate all their antiox mechanisms and their capacities to defend
themselves against external aggressions.

To sum up, they help the cells reach a point of homeostasis, which
in cell language means balance. Balance: keyword also in our hectic lifestyle. We also discovered that this
ingredient functions intelligently and helps only when needed. We know about this because we’ve done
studies with damaged cells or aged cells as well as studies with younger and undamaged cells.

Our ingredients were capable of awakening the damaged cells that needed it, activating their collagen
production, elastin and other proteins. We also noticed that they were capable of rejuvenating the cells by having a positive influence on their epigenetic function.

As a direct consequence of all this, we proved that mature skin got noticeably denser, improved its elasticity,
thickness, hydration and softness. Again, all thanks to the olive tree.

Thank you olive.

La entrada THE CELL AND SKIN AGING se publicó primero en Ilos Cosmetics.