Cognis subsidiary targets men's grooming with anti-sensitivity ingredient

The Cognis​ subsidiary has formulated Anasensyl for men's skin, a synergistic complex of synthetic and botanical substances, selected for their regulation activity on inflammatory mediators. It contains caffeine, zinc gluconate, ammonium glycyrrhizate and horse chestnut extract.

Men's skin is naturally thicker and more resilient than female skin, but subjected to a high level of stress every day. Aggressors inflicting damage on men's skin include exposure to UV radiation during outdoor activities and, above all, shaving.

Laboratoires Sérobiologiques said its ingredient product was suitable for a range of applications and can be used in care products such as creams, gels and lotions for use before and after shaving, daily care and sensitive skin ranges.

The company pointed out that dry, sensitive skin is a common complaint amongst men these days, and this problem is often exacerbated by the fact that they use care products which are not completely suited to male skin.

Laboratoires Sérobiologiques develops innovative active ingredients and concepts for the cosmetics industry, and its latest innovation enables cosmetics producers to benefit from the trend towards specifically male grooming products, and to open up new markets.

This new ingredient, which is suitable for different cosmetic applications such as shaving products, daily care, and treatments for sensitive skin, decreases the skin's sensitivity to the main daily stresses, preventing redness and stinging.

While the grooming industry always used to focus on female consumers, men are now getting in on the act too. They are increasingly concerned with their appearance, and as a result spend a lot of time and money on clothing and grooming products. This means that male grooming is becoming a segment with enormous commercial potential.

The results of a clinical study carried out on 28 male volunteers demonstrated the benefits of Anasensyl, according to Laboratoires Sérobiologiques.

The company claimed that, unlike traditional anti-inflammatory actives, it is "proactive" in increasing the skin's tolerance -- an after-shave balm containing one per cent Anasensyl reportedly reduced the skin's sensitivity to daily stresses, making it smoother, and reducing redness, the stinging sensation (by 45 per cent) and erythema intensity (by 54 per cent).

Other in-vitro tests were asserted to have shown that the product has an anti-inflammatory effect on human keratinocytes irradiated by UV-B, and the ability to protect against irritants commonly used as ingredients in cosmetic products.

Laboratoires Sérobiologiques' marketing manager Isabelle Benoit said: "With our new Anasensyl active ingredient we are responding not only the growing male grooming trend, but also to end consumers' preference for products that are both natural and highly efficacious, thereby giving our customers a competitive advantage."​

Overview: Anasensyl LS 9322​

INCI Name: Mannitol (and) Ammonium Glycyrrhizate (and) Caffeine (and) Zinc Gluconate (and) Aesculus Hippocastanum (horse chestnut) extract Concentration: 0.5 to 1.5 per cent

Appearance: a white powder with a weak odor

Solubility: Anasensyl LS 9322 is soluble in water, insoluble in oils and fats.