The science behind ENDOCARE

ENDOCARE is a science-led, dermatological, anti-ageing brand from Cantabria Labs, offering clinically-proven, targeted solutions across skin barrier support, radiance and renewal. It is expertly designed to both prevent and correct at every stage of skin ageing, targeting signs and symptoms including fine lines and wrinkles, sagging, thinning, dryness, uneven tone, dullness and increased sensitivity.

The ENDOCARE collection is made up of three product categories; AGE BARRIER, RENEWAL and RADIANCE. Each range focuses on an essential pillar of skincare for ageing skin, including skin barrier support, epidermal renewal and daily antioxidant protection. ENDOCARE products are designed to be layered together in a dermatologist-aligned approach, addressing the biological factors behind skin ageing and achieving optimal results. This strategy protects, defends and renews the skin.

ENDOCARE is formulated with expert dermatological knowledge, gold-standard active ingredients and patented technologies that play a key role in supporting ageing skin, including RETINDUO® advanced retinoid technology and EDAFENCE® anti-pollution technology, which are clinically proven to improve barrier function, brightness and skin cell renewal. ENDOCARE also features AOX-TECH, a unique delivery system that optimises active ingredients for even better results.

AOX-TECH® for enhanced active ingredients

Sensitive, ageing skin often struggles to tolerate active ingredients, which can make it difficult to achieve the full benefits. Often, this is owed to the skin’s impaired ability to absorb ingredients effectively. This is why stabilisation and delivery systems are key.

The stabilisation process preserves the integrity of active ingredients and prevents degradation and loss of potency. One of the most effective forms of stabilisation is encapsulation. Once applied, active ingredients first encounter the skin’s outermost barrier, which is, by design, a barrier to substances. But we want active ingredients to penetrate the skin and reach the correct layer where they can take action. The advanced delivery technology, AOX-TECH®, overcomes both of these issues by encapsulating and stabilising actives, and making them more effective in penetrating the skin.

Cantabria Labs’ AOX-TECH® technology utilises a nanovesicle system that maximizes the stability, penetration and tolerability of active ingredients including retinoids, hyaluronic acid, azelaic acid and vitamin C.

The nanovesicles are microscopic structures, many times smaller than a typical skin cell, and composed of 98% natural, pharmaceutical-grade compounds. They contain tiny spherical compartments full of active ingredients. Nanovesicles’ ‘nano-size’ and lipid-base membranes allow them to interact more effectively with the skin, as they can integrate more closely than other delivery systems. Nanovesicles also improve ingredient stability and protect molecules from degrading. Once applied to the skin, nanovesicles release their contents gradually in the correct layer of skin. This minimises sudden exposure and irritation.

Retinoids within AOX-TECH® - specifically retinal - offer rapid retinoid biological activity. This means deeper penetration, improved tolerability and better performance. Within Cantabria Labs’ retinoid formulations, retinal in AOX-TECH® is combined with retinol in microsponges, along with natural bioavailability boosters. This innovative technology, known as RETINDUO®, results in a more efficient and less irritating retinoid, delivering visible results to ageing skin.

AOX-TECH® is also incredibly beneficial in the delivery of hyaluronic acid, which has a large molecular structure that otherwise struggles to penetrate the skin. When encapsulated in AOX-TECH nanovesicles, hyaluronic acid size is reduced by around twenty times so that it can be transported deeper into the skin. The results are¹:

• 24% improvement in skin firmness
• 20% increase in elasticity
• 24% reduction in wrinkle depth
• 28% reduction in wrinkle length

AOX-TECH encapsulation also boosts the efficacy of azelaic acid by up to five times, allowing the ingredient to remain potent while it reaches its target site. Here, it takes action with minimal irritation, which is often experienced when applying acids to compromised skin types.

ENDOCARE RADIANCE Vitamin C20 Serum with AOX-TECH® Technology

Vitamin C is particularly effective with AOX-TECH. This powerful active ingredient is known for its instability, especially when it is not formulated correctly, as well as a high risk of irritation in sensitive skin types. ENDOCARE RADIANCE Vitamin C20, a high-strength vitamin C serum, solves this problem, with 15% pure L-ascorbic acid and 5% stabilised vitamin C in AOX-TECH. This allows for better stability and optimised delivery, supporting the consistent antioxidant activity that makes a noticeable difference to ageing skin, with benefits including reducing dark spots, sagging and fine lines, as well as improving skin luminosity and boosting collagen synthesis.

When using the ENDOCARE Vitamin C20 Serum, users reported a transformation in the skin in just seven days, with²:

• 95% noticing a radiant, glowing complexion
• 90% reporting firmer, plumper skin
• 95% experiencing immediately tighter-feeling skin

In 28 days²:

• 80% of users reported a more even skin tone
• 85% noticed less dullness

To use, apply several drops in the morning to clean, dry skin on the face, neck and décolletage. Gently massage the serum until fully absorbed, before applying your moisturiser of choice and HELIOCARE SPF.

EDAFENCE® Technology for enhanced skin barrier integrity

The skin barrier is central to overall skin health. Formed by the outermost layer of the epidermis, the stratum corneum, the skin barrier forms a protective barrier which regulates water loss and protects against environmental aggressors, germs and irritants. When the skin barrier is disrupted, the skin becomes dehydrated, more reactive, and less tolerant to active ingredients. Our skin barrier naturally weakens with age, as lipid production declines and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) increases. This leads to a fragile, dry skin barrier that is more susceptible to damage.

EDAFENCE® Technology is a patented antioxidant complex, developed by Cantabria Labs to support skin barrier function and protect the skin against environmental stress. Derived from Antarctic grass, Deschampsia antarctica, which thrives in extreme weather conditions, EDAFENCE® defends the skin against environmental stressors, including UVA, UVB, visible light and pollution. It works by improving skin cell cohesion and the natural regeneration of skin cells, while stopping the activation of the AhR receptor in the skin, preventing the cascade of cellular damage from free radicals. EDAFENCE® also increases the production of the protein loricrin, which is key in reinforcing the skin barrier. By improving the skin’s ability to retain moisture and fight off external stressors, EDAFENCE® creates a more stable barrier, which leads to better absorption of skincare products and lower chance of irritation.

ENDOCARE Niacinal Serum Gel with EDAFENCE® Technology

A stand-out ENDOCARE formulation that harnesses the power of EDAFENCE® is the ENDOCARE AGE BARRIER Niacinal Serum Gel. This barrier-first niacinamide treatment offers skin barrier repair, protection and resilience, combining EDAFENCE® Technology with 10% niacinamide, along with advanced hyaluronic acid delivery in AOX-TECH. With a velvety, fast-absorbing formula, the Niacinal Serum Gel hydrates and soothes the skin, reinforcing the skin barrier by restoring barrier lipids. It offers clinically-proven efficacy and excellent tolerability, for even the most sensitive ageing skin.

When using ENDOCARE AGE BARRIER Niacinal Serum Gel daily, studies have found that skin barrier function improves by more than 40% in just two weeks, while skin hydration is boosted by 24% in four weeks.³ Skin firmness and elasticity also increased by more than 20%,⁴ while the severity of forehead wrinkles was also notably reduced.

When incorporating the Niacinal Serum Gel into your skincare routine, apply layered underneath moisturiser and SPF in the morning, or layered under your moisturiser in the evening. Apply 4-6 drops evenly to the face, neck and décolletage area, massaging gently until absorbed.

RETINDUO® Technology for enhanced skin renewal and tolerability

Skin regeneration gradually slows as we age, so along with reinforcing our skin barrier, we also need to be encouraging cell renewal.

Skin renewal is a continual process, involving the production and migration of keratinocyte cells from the basal layer of skin, into the outermost layer. Here, the cells turn into corneocytes, the flat cells that eventually shed from the body. Healthy skin renewal also involves the regeneration of deeper structural components, including collagen and elastin. These processes also slow down with age.

One of the most effective skincare ingredients for skin renewal is retinoids (including retinol, retinal and retinoic acid). They are clinically proven to increase skin cell turnover, boost cell function, support collagen and elastin production, and normalise sebum levels in the skin. But some retinoids can be difficult for ageing or compromised skin to tolerate, leading to irritation and sensitivity.

As we’ve mentioned, RETINDUO® Technology was developed by Cantabria Labs to address the balance of retinoid efficacy and tolerability, building on decades of dermatological research. This patented technology combines two powerful retinoids, retinol in microsponges and retinal in AOX-TECH nanovesicles, along with natural bioavailability boosters in a dual-delivery, triple-innovation system. The microsponges provide slow and sustained release of retinol into the skin, while AOX-TECH enhances the efficacy of retinal for deeper penetration and enhanced performance. The booster of natural ingredients then protects against the degradation of retinoic acid and makes the skin more receptive to retinoids.

RETINDUO® has been shown, in ex vivo photoaged skin models, to significantly boost collagen and elastin - key markers of younger, healthier-looking skin. In an In-vivo study, RETINDUO® demonstrated clinically-proven results, visibly reducing the appearance of wrinkles, enhancing skin firmness and improving skin hydration, while continuing to respect the skin barrier.⁵

ENDOCARE RENEWAL Retinoid Serums with RETINDUO® Technology

ENDOCARE RENEWAL retinol serums are developed with RETINDUO® Technology. When using the Intensive serum daily, user test results demonstrated⁶:

• 90% more renewed and repaired skin
• 90% brighter skin
• 85% reduction in wrinkles and fine lines
• 80% reduction in imperfections
• 90% of users also reported their skin felt more nourished and silky

ENDOCARE RENEWAL Retinoid Serums come in two progressive potency levels. The first is ideal for early signs of ageing, suitable for sensitive skin and ideal for retinoid beginners. The second level of potency is suited to those with advanced signs of ageing, with skin already acclimatised to retinoids. To introduce the ENDOCARE RENEWAL retinol serums into your routine and achieve optimal results, follow the structured retinization protocol. This involves progressive phases that build up tolerance.

Apply a pea-sized amount of serum to cleansed skin, on the face and neck, as part of your evening routine. Begin with twice-weekly usage, and increase application frequency according to tolerance. Always avoid direct sun exposure and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen, such as HELIOCARE, when using any retinol formulation.

ENDOCARE has a clear focus on science, combining dermatological research and innovative ingredients to support the skin’s natural processes and respect its biology. Backed by more than 20 years of clinical research, it is the ultimate skincare range for visible, long-term, anti-ageing results.