What’s it good for?
Supports optimal skin health
Boosts collagen formation pathways
Helps with moisture retention and conditioning
Soothes and prevents scaling and drying
Increases rate of fibroblast formation (these cells secrete collagen proteins)
Improves skin elasticity
Reduces fine lines, wrinkles and dullness
Helps with photoaging and UV protection
Protects against free-radical damage to skin cells
Keeping our skin in optimal condition usually means reaching for creams that promote moisture retention, wrinkle reduction and skin firming but looking after your skin means more than just these topical applications. Getting a healthy glow from the inside out is one of the best things you can do to look after your skin.
That’s why we’ve created Kiwi Collagen Boost – a formula of kiwifruit seed oil, flaxseed oil and vitamin C that helps support optimal skin health and boosts the body’s collagen formation pathways.
The Skin
Made up of two layers: the outer epidermal layer, and the inner dermal layer that together have the primary function of being a barrier to external environmental pollutants and irritants such as pathogens or harmful chemicals. It is our first line of defence. If we don’t keep its integrity strong, we compromise our ability to defend against these external factors. This barrier is why topical applications are generally only good for the very surface of the upper epidermal layer because, unless they consist of uncharged and lipid-soluble molecules, it is unlikely they will be able to penetrate to the lower layers (where the magic happens). This is important. Why? Vitamin C is a charged molecule...
Vitamin C
Much more than just an immunity booster, this important vitamin supports a number of cell functions and health benefits including:
- Stablising the collagen formation process – which helps to increase the repair of damaged skin
- Increasing the rate of fibroblast formation (a rate that decreases with age) – these fibroblast cells secrete collagen proteins.
Vitamin C is in a lot of topical face creams but vitamin C as a molecule is ‘charged’ – meaning it is repelled by the cells of the epidermis. Only when vitamin C is present as ascorbic acid (uncharged) can some skin cell penetration occur. And even then a whole host of stabilisation and delivery factors need to be considered for it to be effective.
Taking internal supplementation to support skin health then makes a lot of sense, right?
When taken internally, vitamin C is directly delivered via the blood to the inner layers of the skin and appears to increase skin cell vitamin C levels in those that are deficient. It also appears that in those taking vitamin C and with already good cellular levels of vitamin C will see very little benefit from topical creams containing vitamin C.
What contributes to vitamin C depletion in skin cells?
Normal skin usually has high levels of vitamin C that supports collagen synthesis, antioxidant functions and protection against UV-photodamage (one of the main causes of aging).
When there is excess UV-induced photodamage, oxidative damage from the aging process as well as exposure to environmental pollutants and poor diet, vitamin C levels in skin cells become depleted. Reduced concentration of cellular vitamin C causes the skin to lose its elasticity and plumpness because of the reduced ability to regulate the synthesis of collagen.
One of the main functions of vitamin C is that it binds to and helps the excretion of oxidative free-radicals in the body. These free radicals cause damage and disease so getting rid of them is all-important to not just the skin but your health overall. Kiwifruit Seed Oil also demonstrates excellent antioxidant abilities helping to ameliorate photoaging and protecting against UV-damage.
Kiwifruit seed oil (Actinidia chinensis)
The humble kiwifruit has been grown in NZ for over 60 years. Originally a native to Asia it is also known as the Chinese Gooseberry and offers an array of health properties including being an antioxidant and is considered a ‘superfood’.
The seeds of the Kiwifruit contain a significant amount of Omega-3 fatty acid (Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA)) and tocopherols (vitamin E) with excellent bioavailability (meaning the body is able to absorb and use it effectively).
As a well-known antiaging product, ALA combines with proteins and cholesterol creating living membranes that hold cells together.
Kiwifruit Seed Oil is an excellent source of energy for all cells and helps to maintain their resilience and lubrication. It is highly nourishing with impressive plant fatty acids that ultimately provide support to the skin helping with moisture retention, conditioning, soothing and preventing scaling and drying.
Kiwifruit Seeds are typically harvested from the pulp of the kiwifruit after juice has been extracted and can therefore be considered a “waste product” of the juicing industry. Our uplift of these little seeds, in turn, means they have a low environmental footprint! Just another benefit of the ever humble kiwifruit seed.
Flaxseed Oil
If you don’t know about the benefits of flaxseeds by now, you’ve been missing out! Flaxseed has been used since day dot and was one of the first crops ever cultivated providing an abundance of health benefits including fibre, vitamins and antioxidants. The oil, cold-pressed from the seeds, is also a renowned source of Omega-3 fatty acids that are essential to our diets.
Because our bodies don’t naturally make Omega-3s we must get it from the food we eat – it’s not sustainable, however, to keep delving into the ocean for these essential Omega-3s.
Instead, as Omega-3s play such an important part in our health, getting them from a plant-based, sustainable source such as flaxseeds not only helps you maintain your own health but also helps maintain the health of our planet too.
Flaxseed Oil helps improve the skin’s elasticity, moisture levels and overall appearance with just 1 tablespoon providing more than 7g of omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). This volume makes it one of the richest sources of plant-based omega-3s.
Studies have shown Flaxseed Oil improves skin smoothness and hydration while reducing skin sensitivity to irritation and roughness.
Fatty acids help keep skin hydrated, moist and smooth while preventing drying and reducing fine lines, wrinkles and dullness.
The ALA fatty acids in Flaxseed Oil are powerful antioxidants that can help reduce skin cell inflammation and promote the regeneration of skin by toning, tightening, firming and plumping the skin towards a more youthful appearance.
The anti-inflammatory properties of Flaxseed Oil also means it can help reduce the internal inflammation that can be attributed to skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Supplementation with Flaxseed Oil can modulate skin conditions by significantly decreasing skin sensitivity, roughness and scaling while increasing its smoothness and hydration.
KIWI COLLAGEN BOOST
What you need in your anti-aging, skin-plumping, all-important skincare routine arsenal!
Rich in antioxidants that help with photoaging and UV protection while preventing free-radical damage to skin cells, Kiwi Collagen Boost will help ameliorate aging by boosting collagen formation pathways and smoothing the skins appearance. Kiwifruit Seed Oil particularly demonstrates anti-aging properties with excellent anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory actions that can also help with problematic skin.
Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5579659/
https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/vitamin-C
https://www.livestrong.com/article/180899-the-benefits-of-topically-applying-flaxseed-oil-to-skin/
https://www.annmariegianni.com/flaxseed-oil-for-skin-the-triple-threat-against-aging/
https://www.verywellhealth.com/flaxseed-oil-health-benefits-how-to-use-and-cautions-4178046
