Evolved By Nature

Peptides are THE skincare buzzword of 2024. And that’s a good thing.  And while not all peptides can guarantee results, some are proving to be powerful natural ingredients in almost any formulation, even products made to wash away. We’re a company built on peptides. So naturally we have some passion for the topic. For now we’ll just humbly say that designing peptides involves some very beautiful, very complex chemistry – and thus, all peptides are not created equal. A peptide that’s been thoughtfully designed to benefit skin in a specific way can deliver vastly more significant results. Take for example, Activated Silk™ 33B, one of the first in our library of bioactive peptides. Activated Silk™ 33B boosts the skin barrier to help it keep moisture in and irritants out, which makes it a great ingredient for serums, moisturizers and the like. And it’s water soluble, so it can go in formulations where ceramides and petrolatum cannot. Doing a better job in more formulations than synthetic ingredients, because nature always beats petrochemicals.  But wait, there’s more. This peptide stays on skin even after rinsing it off. There are many cleansers that claim to boost the skin barrier. And countless soaps that promise moisturized skin. Now think of washing your hands – with a product that touches your skin, then goes down the drain. No matter how peptide-packed that product is, it’s not doing much for your skin. When Activated Silk™ 33B bioactive peptides stay on skin after rinsing, they’re able to boost your skin barrier between washes, helping skin look and feel more smooth, hydrated, healthy and youthful – even sensitive and eczema-prone skin.* A skincare ingredient that doesn’t go straight down the drain is a major first for rinse off products like soaps and cleansers. One that we’re really proud of, and excited to see shine in new products to come. Experience it for yourself by picking up some hand soap or body wash at https://lnkd.in/e5MD9ZdG, and learn more about our natural ingredients at https://lnkd.in/eQ5cQyaK. *Based on a clinical study of 30 subjects using the body wash over a 7-day period.

It’s surprising that most leather today isn’t really natural. It’s been around naturally, amazingly, literally forever. But as we’ve found ways to make it more useful over the years, we’ve made it less natural too. With PFAS, aka forever chemicals. This is news to most people. It’s disappointing and it’s dangerous. And here’s the thing, it’s not necessary. PFAS are added to leather in the finishing process. That’s the chemical treatment that protects and enhances leather’s look and feel. Leather finishing has been around for centuries. But in the 1950s, PFAS became standard in the recipe, along with polyurethane (plastic) and other toxic petrochemicals. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) put us at risk across the planet. They threaten health in and around manufacturing environments. When brought home in consumer goods, they enter our water and indoor air supplies. And once disposed of, the chemicals stick around for centuries. Leather is the rare industry that could actually decrease PFAS now. After all, it existed long before these chemicals arrived. And with an output of 20 billion square feet per year, its impact is consequential. So we’ve spent a lot of time figuring out how to make leather more sustainable. Leather like it once was: a naturally occurring, renewably sourced, biodegradable material that’s a byproduct of food production.   Tapping our bioactive peptide library, we created the Activated Silk™ L1 biofinishing system. This chemistry uses zero PFAS, and in the near future, zero PU (polyurethane). It also greatly reduces the carbon output of leather finishing. And the crazy bonus on top of that? L1 leather is more naturally beautiful, durable, breathable and water resistant than petrochemical-laden leather. Removing the last traces of hazardous chemicals from a multi-billion-dollar industry is becoming a reality. The L1 biofinishing system is already at tanneries on three continents, creating products you may have already seen on shelves. You just didn’t know it, because it looks and feels as beautiful as ever – minus all the forever chemicals.

Your skin can take care of itself. You just need to turn it on. Nothing enhances the natural beauty of human skin like appreciating the science inside that keeps it that way. It’s an intricate system of regulation and renewal. But the vital proteins that fuel these processes all decline in production as we age – proteins like collagen, claudin and involucrin. Combining natural resources and peptide chemistry, we’ve designed a platform of bioactive peptides that rally skin’s sleepy protein producers to get back on the job and behave like your younger skin did. Empowering skin from within is called bioactive regulation, and it’s the most naturally effective approach to skincare. It gets to the root of issues that cause the signs of aging and unhealthy skin, rather than masking symptoms like its synthetic competitors. Our Activated Silk™ 27P bioactive peptides, for example, support natural production of type 1 collagen, triggering skin to elevate its own skin firmness and ultimately reduce the appearance of wrinkles.* All of the naturally derived peptides in our bioactive library are biodegradable, formulated without petrochemicals, cruelty-free, non-gmo, non-toxic,** and made from a renewable resource using renewable energy. All to offer clinically proven skincare that’s more safe and sustainable. You can learn more about our natural ingredients by visiting https://lnkd.in/gwNAGeuq or contacting [email protected]. *Based on a clinical study of 32 subjects using 0.5% Activated Silk™ 27P-ɑ in a leave-on product over a 28-day use period. **Based on completion of HRIPT, heavy metal testing, ASTM D5338 biodegradability and aquatic toxicity testing.

Recycling only addresses the end of a product’s life. The circular economy shows us how to design more sustainably from start, to finish, to restart.  In skincare, a lot of the sustainability conversation focuses on packaging. Understandable, as we all watch bottles pile up in our bathrooms. But these aren’t the only materials wasted by the $100 billion beauty industry. Reducing its environmental impact requires looking at everything that goes into making and sharing a product. Instead of limiting materials to a linear life – from source, to use, to waste – the circular economy keeps materials in circulation through reuse, remanufacture, recycling, and biodegrading. And to be clear, waste isn’t just inefficient, it’s unhealthy. Because it persists in the environment. For example, the non-biodegradable ingredients in your soap don’t disappear after going down the drain; they perpetually float around in waterways. As designers of natural ingredients, our contribution to the circular economy starts before skincare formulators use our products. The silk we source is a waste product of an industry that makes natural food sources for marine life. We ensure that they work with farms that don't use pesticides, and use farming practices that sequester carbon. We upcycle the silk using renewable energy, and harvest molecules from them to design the Activated Silk™ peptides that can replace petrochemicals in everyday products, and biodegrade after use. As we grow as a supplier, and the circular economy continues to evolve, we’re always looking for new and better ways to contribute to it. Because we know that collective action within the industry can reverberate into environmental protection, economic improvement, and elevated social justice. And as skincare consumers, beyond reducing our consumption and waste, we can all purchase more responsibly where possible, from brands that put circularity above their bottom line.  You can learn more about our natural ingredients by visiting https://lnkd.in/gwNAGeuq or contacting [email protected]. For more on the circular economy, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation is a great resource. 

Collagen gets all the glory in the skincare world. And yes, it’s great. Very youthful. Very cool. Very good at its job. But it’s got a sidekick protein called claudin that makes it all possible. No one talks about claudin – except scientists. But understanding and empowering this protein can improve the overall health and appearance of our skin. Collagen and claudin are a two-protein system. Collagen plumps the underlying layers of skin, which is why it’s credited with making skin firm and youthful. But claudin literally binds the top layer of skin together, joining barrier cells tightly together to keep moisture in and inflammatory instigators out. And like its cousin, collagen, claudin supply decreases with age. With less claudin, skin barrier cells loosen and drift apart, creating gaps where moisture gets out and environmental stressors get in. Cue the visible signs of aging, and potentially inflamed, unhealthy skin. No matter how much collagen you have, the skin barrier simply can’t maintain a healthy, youthful appearance without enough claudin. This is the kind of problem that we got into skincare to solve. We knew that silk peptides provided a natural way to support the skin barrier. So we started designing them into barrier-boosting solutions – and seeing a measurable increase in the natural production of claudin. Our Activated Silk™ 33B bioactive peptide solution is the first ingredient designed to support the cells that produce claudin. In clinical studies, it shows a remarkable reduction in Transepidermal water loss (dryness), the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, and visibly reduces redness in as little as seven days.* Simply put, with more claudin, skin is more able to help itself. To keep itself hydrated and healthy, and yes, plump and youthful. And with naturally derived biotechnology, the solution for claudin loss is just as simple — not to mention biodegradable, upcycled, cruelty-free and non-toxic. See the results for yourself at https://lnkd.in/gvUZ_Adz or contact [email protected]. *Based on a clinical study of 32 subjects using 2% Activated Silk™ 33B in a leave-on product over a 28-day use period.

Last month, a new study confirmed that forever chemicals can be absorbed through skin. You probably already knew that fossil fuel-derived PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) enter all of our bodies by breathing, eating and drinking; and take centuries to break down in nature (hence the “forever.”) And that they’re linked to numerous diseases and health conditions, including cancer. Perhaps you also knew that as endocrine disruptors, PFAS’ negative impacts on health can be caused by even a small amount. So maybe you’re not shocked by the striking news that PFAS in personal care products and clothing can make it all the way to the bloodstream through your skin. The prevailing science suggested that PFAS were good at preventing skin penetration thanks to the same properties that make them good at repelling water and oil in the products they’re added to, like swimsuits and cosmetics. Not only did researchers at the University of Birmingham just squash that theory, they sprinkled salt in the wound by showing that short-chain PFAS, developed with the goal of being “less toxic,” are actually more easily absorbed by skin than other PFAS. Evolved By Nature exists because we know science can isolate and design more natural replacements for harmful chemicals. And when we’re lucky, we discover natural solutions that are more effective too. Our Activated Silk™ bioactive peptides are naturally derived and biodegradable, and safe (non-toxic, non-carcinogenic and non-mutagenic) for use on skin. Because that’s what’s best for people and planet. And increasingly, as studies like these start to influence industry regulations in favor of health, what’s best for business. To learn more about our natural ingredients currently in the works and on shelves, visit https://lnkd.in/gwNAGeuq or contact [email protected].