A unique gel matrix moisturizer delivers deep hydration resulting in significant clinical improvement in radiance and texture

Abstract

Introduction: As skin ages, it loses its ability to retain moisture and becomes rough and dry. This results in a clinically dull appearance with a loss of radiance, firmness, and suppleness. Symptoms can be improved with use of a moisturizer that builds and maintains skin hydration over time; however, most moisturizers that occlude the skin surface are perceived as heavy and greasy and are not consumer preferred.

Methods: A unique, consumer-preferred gel matrix formula was developed by combining liquid crystal structures, which mimic skin barrier lipid assembly, with specific emulsifiers that deliver water deep into skin. Ex vivo studies were conducted to investigate the superior hydrating effects of the gel matrix formula. Confocal Raman microscopy studies assessed the spatial distribution of water in ex vivo skin after application of the gel matrix formula. To determine the effects of the gel matrix formula on dry facial skin, a 12-week clinical study was conducted with subjects with self-perceived skin dryness and dullness.

Results: The formulation significantly increased the relative water content throughout epidermal regions, which was not observed with the application of a competitive gel formula. Instrumental measurements assessed improvements in skin surface moisturization and barrier function. Clinical grading showed significant improvements in hydration-related endpoints including radiance, clarity, and texture. Subject self-agree assessment demonstrated that subjects observed improvements in the appearance of their facial skin.

Conclusion: These studies demonstrated that the gel matrix formula increased skin water content in deeper layers, and resulted in significant clinical improvements in hydration, barrier function, and clinical appearance of radiance.

Keywords:

• confocal Raman microscopy
• skin radiance
• moisturization
• dynamic skin barrier
• skin hydration

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank David Lewin, PhD., Statistically Speaking Consulting, LLC for statistical analysis of data for this manuscript. Dr Lewin is a consultant for Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc.

Disclosure

Julie M Bianchini, Hequn Wang, Michael D Southall, and Manpreet Randhawa are employees of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc., the manufacturer of the gel matrix moisturizer formulation tested. Qihong Zhang, Gabriel Hanna, Carol R Flach and Richard Mendelsohn are employees of Rutgers University, that received compensation for conducting the Confocal Raman Microscopy experiments. The preliminary findings from this paper were presented at the 2017 American Academy of Dermatology as a poster presentation. Dr Carol R Flach report grants from Johnson and Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc., during the conduct of the study. Dr Richard Mendelsohn report grants from J&J Consumer Companies, Inc., during the conduct of the study.

Supplementary material

Figure S1 Presence of liquid crystals in gel formulation.

The presence of liquid crystals in the gel cream formulation was confirmed by assessing the final formula under a polarizing microscope.