In summer, your skin is already typically exposed to more sunlight, and more UV. If you’re surfing or hiking or doing whatever outdoor sport you love, you also risk having your sunscreen or zinc sweat or wash off, leaving you exposed to the elements and at risk of skin damage.
Your solution could be in your skincare and picking the right Summer ingredients to give you extra support.
Oxidative stress, often triggered by UV exposure, has been linked to both immunosuppression and allergic skin reactions. (2) A 1997 study raises the concern that while many commercially available sunscreens prevent some of the effects of sun exposure (like sunburn), “they do not necessarily offer a complete protection against other biological effects of sunlight, such as immunosuppression… To compound this problem, the skin becomes even more susceptible to environmental hazards with advancing age, because of a general decline in the body’s immune defence mechanisms.” (3)
While it’s advised to avoid the midday sun, sometimes the waves are too good, you lose track of time and you’re out there too long, or your skin is just particularly susceptible to burning. I’ve experienced turning a shade of a tomato after a short surf session wearing both sunscreen and zinc before. Ideally I want my skin to have its own level of protection by building a natural layer of defence.
With this in mind, here are some of my favourite gentle, yet powerful summer ingredients which I think you’ll love too.
CM Glucan Granulate – Vegan and Naturally Derived
CM Glucan, a natural compound derived from yeast, has been studied in clinical trials since the 90s for its strengthening and restorative effects on extremely sensitive or stressed skin. Glucan has actually been identified as an immunologically active agent, meaning it modifies the immune system response of the skin. This results in activation of the body's natural defences and enhanced skin wound healing. (1)
0.2% topical CM Glucan has been shown to; (3)
- Greatly increase the skin’s self-protective capacity against UVA damage – including preventing the peroxidation of skin lipid (fat) cells.
- Protect keratinocyte cells (involved in skin’s immune system) from losing antioxidant molecules, rendering them less sensitive to UVA.
- Protect the skin against dehydration after exposure to stress and damage.
- Accelerate skin recovery after damage by stimulating the body’s own healing processes
CM Glucan works best when used 5-14 days prior to exposure, giving it time to improve the skin's environmental resilience to harsh, drying and sun-exposed conditions.
Alpine Rose Extract - Sustainably & Organically Farmed
We love Alpine Rose for it’s ability to both reduce senescent cells in the skin, and prevent new ones from forming, through its multi-action effects.
Senescent (aged) cells, otherwise known as "zombie cells", are cells that have lost their ability to generate new, healthy cells. They tend to build up in the skin as we age as our immune systems can’t clear them out as effectively. This build up can occur prematurely due to chronic UV exposure and other stressors.
A build up of Zombie Cells leads to inflammation and accelerated skin ageing, resulting in decreased thickness, reduced regenerative capacity, and skin barrier dysfunction—all of which impair the skin's overall function. (4)
Topical senolytics, like Alpine Rose, target and eliminate senescent cells, thereby reducing their presence in the skin and slowing down cellular ageing. Senolytics have been shown to safely reduce the biological age of the skin, demonstrated by measuring the resultant decrease in the expression of senescence markers. (6)
In addition to its senolytic action, Alpine Rose Extract is also recognized as a potent antioxidant. This makes it particularly beneficial in summer, as its antioxidant properties help protect healthy cells from becoming senescent. (7)
The below image has been created as a demonstration only. (5)
BEFORE ALPINE ROSE
AFTER ALPINE ROSE
*Please note that none of our products are sunscreen alternatives and we always advise using adequate sun protection measures. Our articles are written for educational purposes only and not to be used as medical advice.
Article written by Ingrid van den Berg van Saparoea, Director of Radical Botanics, and medically reviewed by Mairead McCorry, Masters Sc. in Acupuncture, Bachelor of Nursing, Post Grad. Dip. Education, Adv. Dip. Ayurveda Medicine.
References:
- Zulli, F., Suter, F., Blitz, H., & Nissen, H. (1998) Improving skin function with CM-glucan, a biological response modifier from yeast. Int J Cosmet Sci. (2):79-86. doi: 10.1046/j.1467-2494.1998.171740.x.
- Ullrich, S., Kim, T., Anathaswamy, N,. & Kripke, M. (1997) Sunscreen Effects on UV Based Immune Suppression. The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc, Texas, USA.
- Zulli, F., Suter, F., Blitz, H., & Nissen, H. (1997) CM Glucan: A Biological Response Modifier from Bakers Yeast for Skin Care. SOFW- Journal 123, Jahrgang 8.
- Hubert, J,. Kotland, A,. Henes, B., Poigny, S., & Wandrey., F. (2022) Deciphering the Phytochemical Profile of an Alpine Rose (Rhododendron ferrugineum L.) Leaf Extract for a Better Understanding of Its Senolytic and Skin-Rejuvenation Effects. Cosmetics. 9(2):37. https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics9020037
- RemaLabs & Radical Botanics (2024) https://radicalbotanics.com.au
- Zonari, A., Brace, L., & Al-Katib, K., (2023) Senotherapeutic peptide treatment reduces biological age and senescene burden in human skin models. Nature 9 (10) https://www.nature.com/articles/s41514-023-00109-1
- Gafner, F., Schmid, D., Belser, E., (2011) Ecocert Certified Alpine Rose Active Combat Aging by Protecting Skin Proteins. Mibelle Biochemistry