EDAFENCE® Technology
Patented anti-pollution technology that protects against environmental stressors
Our skin is our first line of defence against external stressors and pollution. But our skin barrier alone cannot prevent the deep damage caused by the environment around us.
EDAFENCE® Technology is an incredible anti-pollution technology that is clinically proven to protect the skin against the cascade of damage caused by pollution, as well as repairing existing damage.
Find out more about how EDAFENCE® and how we can protect our skin from external aggressors.
How pollution damages the skin
The World Health Organisation has found that 99% of the global population breathes air that exceeds the WHO limits for pollutants.1 This exposure can lead to a number of serious conditions, including stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and acute/chronic respiratory diseases.
Pollution also has a significant impact on our skin health. Symptoms include a compromised skin barrier, dry skin, signs of ageing, rough texture and skin prone to inflammation. Studies have also shown that pollution plays a role in common skin conditions, including psoriasis, acne and dermatitis.
Pollution and free radicals
The main pollutants that damage the skin include:
- UV radiation, from the sun’s rays
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which occur when fuels like coal and oil are burned
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), indoor gases emitted from things like paint and glue
- Heavy metals, which can find their way into our bodies through medicine and lead pipes
- O3, also known as ozone, or smog2
The reason pollution is so damaging is the presence of free radicals, leading to oxidative stress. Free radicals are single atoms that are on the hunt for a pair, stopping at nothing to find an electron to couple up with. They scavenge the body for electrons to steal, which causes oxidative stress. This stress leads to deep skin damage and signs of premature skin ageing, such as fine lines, wrinkles, dehydration and dull, discoloured skin.
Active ingredients and antioxidants
Our skin does have a natural barrier to keep things like pollution, viruses and bacteria at bay, but it can’t fight off every threat. That’s why it’s important to support the skin with barrier-boosting technologies and ingredients, including ceramides for structure and repair, moisturisers for hydration, and exfoliators for healthy cell turnover.
Antioxidants are also essential when tackling pollution. Antioxidants are the chemical properties that can delay or totally prevent cell damage. They achieve this by donating an electron to unstable cells without becoming unstable themselves. By offering electrons to free radicals, they satisfy their need to be paired up, which makes them less reactive. This helps to slow down or completely prevent free radical damage.
The biggest skincare must-have in the fight against pollution damage, however, is our clinically-proven anti-pollution technology, EDAFENCE®.
What is EDAFENCE® Technology?
EDAFENCE® is a unique anti-pollution technology that is clinically proven to reduce free radical damage and prevent the cascade of damage caused by pollution.
EDAFENCE® is derived from hardy Antarctic grass, Deschampsia antarctica. This grass is subjected to a harsh environment, including high solar radiation, high salinity, low temperature and extreme dryness. Despite the adverse conditions, D. antarctica can thrive, thanks to its incredible defence mechanisms that combat stressors.
Cantabria Labs developed a method to extract the active ingredients of D. antarctica whilst preserving its biological activity, and EDAFENCE® was created. This incredible technology contains mechanisms that act molecularly within the skin, offering preventative and repairing benefits that have been demonstrated in multiple clinical trials.
How EDAFENCE® Technology works
EDAFENCE® provides targeted activity to protect and restore the skin. It prevents and repairs the damage caused by external stressors, including oxidising agents, tobacco smoke, heavy metals and urban pollutants.
EDAFENCE® Technology stops the activation of the AhR receptor to prevent the cascade of cellular damage. It works to maintain loricrin levels, the protein that protects and reinforces the skin barrier, as well as reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL). EDAFENCE® also helps to prevent alterations to the epidermis, dermis and dermo-epidermal junction, and protects against damage caused by UVA/UVB and HEV, including blue light.
Clinical data
EDAFENCE® Technology is clinically proven to protect against tobacco smoke and urban pollutants, demonstrating a reduction in damage to the cell fibroblast, as well as protecting against free radical aggression and promoting fibrobast survival. It has also been found to prevent hyperpigmentation and dark spots.3
Furthermore, EDAFENCE® improves the skin barrier function by maintaining levels of loricrin, a protein related to a well-functioning skin barrier.4
Products featuring EDAFENCE® Technology
EDAFENCE® Technology is a key component in Cantabria Labs’ leading ranges, including Endocare. Explore our innovative formulations below.
