The founder of UK “green cosmeceutical” brand, Medik8, Elliot Isaacs, was in Sydney last week for a media launch hosted by the brand’s Australian distributor, Advanced Cosmeceuticals.
Isaacs was accompanied by Medik8 International Trainer, Izabella Wize.
Isaacs outlined his background in pharmacology and the philosophy behind Medik8, which was founded in 2004. He cited Body Shop founder, Anita Roddick as an inspiration, for her brand’s stance on ethical trading and natural skincare. “I wanted to take the ethical trading concept and bring efficacy to products as well,” Isaacs said. “I wanted to take natural extracts and engineer them to make them more active. This is what we call green cosmeceuticals.”
Isaacs said one of the motivators for creating the range was his sister’s problems with sensitive skin – a condition he said is made, not genetically determined.
The brand strives for no irritants in its products, so ingredients are chirally correct and bio available, for better absorption into the skin. The products are sulphate, soap and paraben-free. The company uses carbon neutral packaging including recycled glass and HDP plastic.
A couple of new products were unveiled at the launch: a new skin needling device and a broad spectrum anti-oxidant serum, Firewall, which contains a new patent-pending ingredient called Cusodase-P; a blend of actives including an antioxidant molecule said to be 40 times stronger than L-ascorbic acid.
Izabella Wize gave a presentation on skin needling, also known as collagen induction therapy; the burgeoning skin rejuvenation technique which aims to improve the appearance of lines, wrinkles, scars, stretch marks and enlarged pores. Short, narrow needles on a handheld roller device make shallow punctures in the epidermis, stimulating the skin’s own healing response of producing collagen, for an improved appearance. Skin needling is also said to allow for deeper penetration of skincare ingredients. The skin roller devices are available in a professional use only grade and a home use version.
Wize said the needles on the Medik8 dermal roller are made from gold-plated titanium and the device is irradiated for sterilisation.