ExcelVite shares the results of an in-vitro and human efficacy study of facial gel mask infused with palm tocotrienol complex (EVNol™) in conferring facial skin moisturizing benefit.

Among the many skin care product categories, the market for facial mask is still considerably small compared to the overall global skin care sales. However, in the United States and some European countries such as UK, Italy and Spain, facial mask sales are on the increase. In fact, the sales of facial mask in the US experienced a significant 60% rise to $65.5 million between July 2013 and June 2014, according to market research firm NPD. Yet, the main consumer of facial masks comes from China, where the 2014 market size was estimated at $1.6 billion, and growing at an average 30% rate annually, according to a report from HAPPI China.

In a technical publication, researchers from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) developed a formulation of a facial gel mask infused with palm mixed tocotrienol complex (EVNol™) – the high performance vitamin E.  Upon contact, the gel hydrates and seals the moisture in the skin; and at the same time, enable transdermal delivery of tocotrienol.

In order to study the efficacy of the gel mask, MPOB researches first tested the EVNol™-infused gel for irritancy potential using an in-vitro irritancy assay kit before conducting an in-vivo patch test on 20 human volunteers. Both in-vivo and in-vitro studies showed that the EVNol™-infused gel was non-irritant to human skin.

Subsequently, they went on to study moisturizing effect of the EVNol™-infused gel mask, compared to a placebo and a commercial mask, against untreated skin area on 20 human volunteers. The masks were applied for 30 minutes and then removed. Skin hydration levels were then measured at different intervals up to 180 minutes. At 180 minutes of gel mask removal, significant differences were observed in skin hydration levels among mask samples studied, with EVNol™-infused gel mask having the most significant hydration benefits by maintaining about 50% of skin moisture compared to untreated area. Importantly, using gel mask without inclusion of actives (placebo) showed significant moisture loss at 30 minutes of mask removal.

Another in-vitro skin permeation study was conducted to assess skin permeability and antioxidant activity of the EVNol™-infused gel over different intervals. The permeate fluids collected from the study were found to contain tocotrienols and exhibited potent antioxidant activity from DPPH-scavenging test.

The researchers concluded that gel mask formulated with palm mixed tocotrienol complex (EVNol) is non-irritant to skin, able to maintain skin moisture levels and at the same time, enrich the skin with antioxidants.

References

Cheong MY, et al. (2014). Tocotrienol-based facial masks. MPOB Information Seires, ISSN 1511-7871.

Traber MG, et al. (1997). Diet-derived and topically applied tocotrienols accumulate in skin and protect the tissue against ultraviolet light-induced oxidative stress. Asia Pacific J Clin Nutr, 6(1), 63-67.

Disclaimer : The statements in the above article have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.