Navigating the path to healthy aging: Gelita, PhytoGaia and SRW Laboratories talk ingredient innovation

31 Oct 2023 --- Healthy aging has become a focal point in today’s personal care industry, driven by the growing awareness of individuals looking to maintain their well-being and youthful vitality as they progress through the various stages of life. As science advances and consumers prioritize their health, companies like SRW Laboratories, PhytoGaia and Gelita are at the forefront of developing innovative solutions to address age-related concerns.

“I was recently at the Age Research and Drug Discovery conference in Copenhagen. There is huge progress in identifying geroprotectors, molecules that can slow the aging process. Experts suggest that we may only be 3-5 years from having our first longevity molecule validated,” SRW Laboratories founder Greg Macpherson informs Personal Care Insights.

“I expect that once we have our first compound, many more will follow. AI is going to accelerate the discovery and validation of these compounds, and we will likely see significant developments in this area by the end of the decade.”

The most significant trend on the horizon, highlighted by the experts, is personalization and preventative wellness. “Healthy aging is not just about addressing visible signs of aging but also about prevention and proactive care. Consumers are increasingly seeking products that help maintain youthful skin and hair and prevent age-related concerns from arising in the first place,” Dr. Ariati Aris, scientific affairs specialist at PhytoGaia, stresses.

“There has been a shift toward natural and clean beauty products. Consumers, including those in the aging demographic, are more aware of the ingredients in their personal care products. They prefer formulations with minimal chemicals and artificial additives.”

Consumers are increasingly seeking products that not only address visible signs of aging but also focus on prevention and proactive care.Synergistic solutions for skin health
PhytoGaia, a company based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is “revolutionizing the personal care industry with its groundbreaking products” to promote healthy aging. Two key products in their arsenal are TocoGaia and STGaia, each with unique attributes that cater to various age-related concerns.

Aris elucidates that ingredients derived from natural sources are gaining popularity. “Compounds such as palm tocotrienols and tocopherol and squalene as well as other various plant extracts with anti-aging properties are being researched and incorporated into products.” 

TocoGaia, a natural full-spectrum palm tocotrienols and tocopherol complex extracted from sustainably sourced palm fruit, has gained attention for its properties. Unlike regular vitamin E, tocotrienol’s unsaturated side chain allows efficient penetration into tissues, including the brain.

Aris shares that research has shown tocotrienols to possess potent antioxidant properties, aiding in protecting cells and tissues from oxidative damage — a key contributor to age-related concerns. Furthermore, palm tocotrienol vitamin E has demonstrated significant skin health benefits, such as maintaining moisture levels, pigmentation control, photoprotective properties and even promoting hair growth.

STGaia, meanwhile, combines squalene and tocotrienols sourced from sustainably produced palm fruits. “STGaia is the first and novel natural plant-based brand ingredient with these two synergistic phytonutrients as a complex, specifically developed for topical and oral skin beauty formulations,” details Aris.

“Squalene has been traditionally obtained from the livers of sharks, where it can be found in high concentrations. However, due to animal protection regulations and the potential presence of persistent organic pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, organochlorine pesticides, dioxins or carcinogenic heavy metals, shark-derived squalene is discouraged and shunned by manufacturers and consumers alike.”SRW formula in the Cel series (Cel¹, Cel² and Cel³) are designed to address the hallmarks of aging and support the body to fight changes in a natural way.

Squalene, an essential component of human sebum, has powerful antioxidant and moisturizing properties. As individuals age, the decline in squalene levels in the skin necessitates supplementation to maintain skin and hair health.

Meeting the needs of aging demographics
Consumers are increasingly seeking products that not only address visible signs of aging but also focus on prevention and proactive care. 

Natural and clean beauty products are gaining traction, with consumers becoming more ingredient-conscious. Anti-aging skin care has expanded significantly, with ingredients like retinol, hyaluronic acid and peptides experiencing increased demand for their proven efficacy in reducing wrinkles, fine lines and skin texture.

Healthy aging is not limited to external skin care. Overall wellness, including mental and emotional health is also gaining importance. “As we all know, our population is getting older, and demographic change creates different consumer demands and behaviors. Consequently, the market for healthy aging supplements is growing,” asserts Oliver Wolf, marketing EMEIA at Gelita.

“In detail, consumers show much more interest in products helping them to cope with all the undesired side effects of aging, and they are willing to spend quite some money for supplements promoting their health and well-being. But at the same time, they are very sensitive about the promises made by the products they consume: Scientific background is mandatory.”

Gelita provides different Bioactive Collagen Peptides targeting very specifically the most relevant aspects of aging and their accompanying problems.Tech-driven innovations
The future of healthy aging in the personal care market is driven by ingredient innovation, agree the experts. 

“Ingredient innovation will continue at pace as we learn more about the pathways associated with aging and how we can modulate them. This, combined with AI molecule discovery, personalization, preventative wellness and AI health coaches, will all be a part of our individual, digital and overall health programs by the end of the decade and will have a significant effect on lifespan and healthspan extension globally,” predicts Macpherson. 

Aris details that advanced delivery systems, such as nanotechnology and liposomal encapsulation, will optimize ingredient penetration and stability. Ingredients that offer multiple benefits, such as anti-aging and sun protection, are expected to appeal to consumers seeking efficiency in their skin care routines.

Meanwhile, according to Wolf at Gelita, the market will continue to grow, and science will continue to find ingredients helping to better cope with the signs of aging. 

“Consumers will remain critical and need to be convinced about each new upcoming solution. The goal is not primarily to expand your lifespan but to stay healthy for as long as possible. Ultimately, it is all about ‘adding life to your years instead of years to your life.’ As a consequence, all products and ingredients supporting this approach will be driving the healthy aging market in the future.”

By Radhika Sikaria