The Essence of White Flowers for Multifunctional Eye Care

The eyes are the door to our soul

We only have a few seconds to make a positive first impression. It is said that 3 seconds are enough, and we rarely have a second chance. In addition, if we consider that when we look at someone, normally we seek eye contact, the first thing we look at is the eyes. So, one of the principal aesthetic concerns is the eye contour.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, eyelid rejuvenation is the fourth most popular type of plastic surgery, and the most requested among men.

The skin of the eye contour is extremely fragile, and much thinner than facial skin, so it shows the first signs of aging. This zone is the most likely to suffer damage as a result of different assaults (UV, pollution, stress, smoke, etc.) and is constantly in use, as we blink an average of 20,000 times a day.

The common traits that reveal aging are the appearance of:

– dark circles

– puffiness

– droopy eyelids

– crow’s feet.

Eye’fective™ is a combination of two plants with white flowers, hawthorn and Arabian jasmine, which act in conjunction to create a multi-functional effect on the eye contour.

Crataegus monogyna (hawthorn) is a shrub or small tree native to Europe. Its leaves, flower petals and fruit are edible. The culinary use of its flower petals was recorded by the master-chef to King Richard II in 1390. In the Victorian era, hawthorn represented “hope” in the language of flowers. In the Celtic tradition, the plant was said to cure a broken heart. In Gaelic folklore, the hawthorn marks “the entry into the other world” and is strongly associated with fairies.

Strangely, Jasminum sambac (Arabian jasmine) is not native to Arabia; it is believed to come from a small region in the southern Himalayan valleys. Today, it extends through humid tropical zones and is cultivated as an ornamental plant worldwide. The flowers open at night, generally between 6:00 and 8:00 in the evening, and close in the morning. They can be used as a fragrant ingredient in perfumes and jasmine tea due to their antidepressant and relaxing properties. The name Jasmine comes from the Persian (Farsi) “yâsamin,” which means “Gift from God.” In Borneo, it is customary among women to braid jasmine flowers into their well-oiled hair at night.

Different in vitro trials were conducted to ascertain the activity of Eye´fective™ in reducing dark circles and droopiness in the eyelids. We looked at three aspects to do this:

1. Effect on vascular conditions of the eye contour.

• Vascular permeability: the greater the permeability of the blood vessels and capillaries, the worse the blood circulation is and the more the blood accumulates in the tissue of the eye contour.
• Degradation of bilirubin and iron chelation: both bilirubin and free iron give a yellowish blue-purple color to the areas of tissue in which they accumulate; an increase in their degradation will decrease the dark tone of the eye contour.

2. Decrease of melanin in the eye contour.
3. Improved collagen in the skin.

• Collagen synthesis: an increase in collagen synthesis will promote the density and elasticity of the skin.
• Inhibition of glycation of heavy-molecular-weight proteins such as collagen: collagen glycation would entail a loss of its function and would modify its biomechanical properties. The inhibition of glycation promotes the recovery of its activity.

With only 0.4%, Eye´fective™ increases bilirubin degradation by 45.6% with respect to the control.

Also at very low concentrations eliminates 18% of the free iron originating from the accumulated hemoglobin degradation that produces darkening of the skin, achieved a 21% decrease in melanin with respect to the control, increases collagen I synthesis in dermal fibroblasts by 115% with respect to the control and achieves a 75% reduction in glycation with respect to the control.

This means that it has a multiactive effect.

An in vivo study was conducted with two different volunteer panels to ascertain the efficacy of Eye´fective™ in decreasing dark circles and lifting the eyelids.

The first panel was with 20 female volunteer, 40-60 years old, with dark circles 28 days. Measurements at D0, D14 and D28 ,placebo vs. formulation with 2% Eye´fective™

Application on eye contour, active ingredient on one eye and placebo on the other.  Twice a day

Eye´fective™ reduces dark circles by 19% in only 14 days (reaching 80% in two volunteers).

The increase in oxygen saturation tells us that oxygenated hemoglobin increases in the dark circles area, and therefore circulation improves because hemoglobin is not stagnant and the skin of the eye contour is lightened and refreshed.

Eye´fective™ increases oxygen saturation in the skin by 2% in only 14 days.

The second panel was with 20 female volunteers, 40-60 years old, during 28 days. Measurements at D0, D14 and D28. Placebo vs. formulation with 2% Eye´fective™

Application on eye contour, active ingredient on one eye and placebo on the other.  Twice a day

Regarding the eye lifting effect, the active lifts the eyelids a 19%  in just 14 days, an effect that increases the longer the treatment is used.

In addition to the expected activities, in the images taken for the different tests we observe a very visible complementary anti-wrinkle action.

Just using one ingredient you get multiple benefits in the final formulation.