What are peptides and what do they do for your skin?

Peptides are one of the most talked-about ingredients in the field of anti-ageing skincare. When applied to your skin, they demonstrate remarkable benefits, revitalising your skin and making it more resilient and stronger. But peptides do not possess magical properties, as some brands claim. The fact is that there is no single ingredient that will address all the signs of skin ageing - and peptides are no exception. Peptides are a great asset to your skin, but it’s best to be realistic in your expectations to avoid disappointment. Peptides have amazing benefits for skin but the results will never be the same as a cosmetic procedure.

What are peptides?

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that act as building blocks of proteins such as collagen, elastin and keratin. These proteins are the foundations of your skin and are responsible for its texture, strength and resilience. Without peptides, our skin is less intact which can lead to a loss of firmness, the appearance of wrinkles, a change in texture and less ‘bounce’.

When applied topically to the skin, peptides act as little messengers, triggering skin cells to perform specific functions such as building collagen and elastin, encouraging skin to look and act younger.

Extensive scientific research has proven that peptides can support your skin on multiple levels, for example firming, soothing and hydrating the skin.

B4U uses many types of peptides in its products, such as: Matrixyl 3000, Matrixyl Sinthe' 6, Idealift, MVP Diamond Sirt and Chronogen. 

What is “Prebiotic Cosmetics”, and what’s the difference between it and “Probiotic Cosmetics”?

"Prebiotic cosmetics" and "probiotic cosmetics"

"Prebiotic cosmetics" and "probiotic cosmetics" have become a buzzword in the past year, but many don't understand exactly what they mean, or simply confuse between them. This blog will try to explain what these two categories mean and the differences between them.

Let's start with some background: inside our bodies and on our skin, we co-exist with billions of micro-organisms, such as bacteria, which play a key role in protecting our health. They are called "Microbiota".

The COVID-19 made us all fear viruses, but the truth is, that our bodies face viruses, bacteria and fungi constantly, and is harmed by them very rarely. Our microbiota is one of the reasons for this – our bacteria simply fight and reject new bacteria for us.

As long as our microbiota is balanced, the skin is healthy and looks beautiful. However, various factors such as hormonal changes, UV radiation, fatigue and stress, exposure to chemicals, and of-course the intensive use of face masks, may disrupt this balance. Imbalanced microbiota has visual signs, such as pimples (pimples are typically caused by bacteria of the acne family), inflammations, redness, pigmentation, dryness and even wrinkles.

This is where PREBIOTIC COSMETICS becomes relevant. PREBIOTIC COSMETICS restores the balance by offering nutrients to the "goods" bacteria. When the "good" bacteria are fed with the nutrients they like, they thrive, and fight the bad bacteria effectively.

This is where I recommend you to learn more about B4U's prebiotic cosmetic lines:

  • Prebiotic Beauty Anti-Aging – based on Revivyl, winner of 3 gold-medals, that offers holistic skin renewal in 14 days based on prebiotic science.
  • Prebiotic Beauty Anti-Acne- based on Black BeeOme™, an award-winning prebiotic technology that regulates sebum production, mattifies and purifies oily skin.
  • Prebiotic Care – organic-certified and vegan line that balances the skin, makes it more even, relaxed and nourished.

PROBIOTIC COSMETICS, on the other hand, are quite different. Basically, they are based on bacteria with positive effect on the skin, similarly to probiotic yogurt, that includes bacteria which is good for our digestive system.

Both categories offer interesting benefits, but it's important to understand the science behind them.

For more information about prebiotic and probiotic products, please contact B4U Laboratories HERE.

Organic certified private label – is it a good idea?

What’s the process for obtaining organic certification? Is it complicated? Is it expensive?

This post will try to answer some of the most common questions.

  1. Q: Do I have to be certified in order to claim that my product is “organic”?

    • A: it depends on local legislation. In the EU, for instance, the answer is yes. However, the certification is always advisable in order to a ensure that consumers are not misled.

  1. Q: Are all organic and natural products vegan?

    • A: not necessarily. Vegan cosmetics may include synthetic ingredients that are not suitable for organic cosmetics, such as synthetic fragrances. Similarly, organic cosmetics may contain raw materials from honey or beeswax, which are not considered vegan.

  1. Q: What is the process for obtaining Cosmos certification?

    • This may vary from one certifying body to the other (e.g., Ecocert, Soil Association and BDIH). In general, a brand-owner must register with the certifying body and be audited. Then, the brand-owner must pay a yearly based on the size of your business. In addition, every product should be reviewed from every aspect: formula, packaging, text, label etc. Furthermore, you should expect at least one yearly audit. Each review and audit cost a certain fee.

  1. Q: How long does this process takes?

    • It may take 6-12 months from the moment you contract the certification body until you receive certifications for the final products (including the packaging and labels), and this range is based on the assumption that the design is ready in advance.

  1. Q: Must the manufacturer be certified organic too?

    • A: YES! A preliminary condition for organic certification of a final product, is an organic certification for all production sites.

  1. Q: What are the advantages and disadvantages of organic certification?

    • A: organic certification may appeal to many consumers, especially those who are looking for products in this niche. It may also set apart your brand and create an added value for its products. However, this all comes at a cost: the certifications and certification process are costly and VERY time-consuming; the shelf-life of the products are typically shorter; natural fragrances are different from their synthetic counterparts, and many consumers may not appreciate that.

B4U is experienced at producing organic-certified private label projects, and can support you in this process. For more information, please feel free to contact us.

OEM- How many SKUs should I start with?

Should I start with few items, or is the more the marrier?

One of the first major decisions a brand-owner (or a brand-owner to be) has t make, is how many SKU they should start with.

Some want to start with lots of products at once. This may happen because they’re not sure what to choose; or because the think that a wide collection would impress consumers more. However, this may become a very costly mistake. For start, every SKU requires spending many resources: regulations, packaging, advertising etc. This means that every SKU gets less attention. Furthermore, a brand-owner who spent all these resources right at the start may feel frustrated in the long term if the sales aren’t good, especially towards the expiry date. Everyone learns the market only after the products are out there, and it is very common to discover that the design is wrong, the concept is inaccurate, or the smell isn’t working. Focusing on less SKUs can mitigate this risk. On the other hand, when putting the resources into branding and advertising, and expecting to meet consumers, it makes sense to offer them a range of products.

As a result, I believe the “gold number” is in the range of 5-10 SKUs.

If you are experienced, particularly if you already have an established brand and wishes to expand it, then you can feel confident with the higher part of the range.

However, if you’re just establishing your new brand, my strong advice is to start with up to 6 SKUs, making plans for additional items in the pipeline. This can help you build your strategy for at lest the first year. During this year, you learn what your clientele is looking for, and offer them appropriate products.

For more advice on how to start your private label, contact B4U Laboratories HERE.

Private Label and cosmetic regulations

How to ensure that your new brand is in compliance with applicable cosmetic regulations? *

The cosmetic industry is highly-regulated, and the regulation is becoming increasingly scrutinous. It is very important to know and ensure compliance with the applicable cosmetic regulations, since discrepancies may result in fines, withdrawals and recalls, and even criminal charges in extreme cases.

The cosmetic regulations vary from one country or territory to the other, which may be quite complicated, and requires every manufacturer and brand owner to follow up and ensure compliance in every single place.

For example, the American FDA focuses its cosmetic regulations in 2 sets of requirements: First, any cosmetic products must not include raw materials that are classified as prohibited. Second, a cosmetic product may not make any medical claim, such as “healing”, “decreases wrinkles”, “eliminates pimples”.

The EU cosmetic regulations are much stricter and complicated. Every product has to have a Responsible Person (RP) mentioned clearly on it, in case the authorities have questions or inquiries. In addition, every product must have a Product Information File (PIF) with Safety Assessment (SA) prepared by a certified toxicologist and a large set of lab tests, such as challenge test, stability test and microbiological test. This is a significant work and expense, which should not be overlooked.

Many other countries, such as China, Russia and South Korea require the brand owner / distributor to apply for a permit, and list numerous documents and certificates to obtain it. In these cases, PIF according to the EU regulations may be very helpful, as it already contains much of the required documents ad certificates.

Therefore, before choosing products for your brand, you should take the regulations issue into account. The easiest way is to look for manufacturers that already have the PIF in place and can support you in this process. It is also a good idea to hire a regulation expert.

All of B4U’s formulations have PIF in place, and are compliant with all applicable cosmetic regulations. In addition, we offer professional regulatory support, so the process is smooth, short and inexpensive. For more information feel free to contact us.

* This post is not an official legal advice.

What Does “Organic Cosmetics” Mean?

Organic cosmetics include natural and vegetable origin raw-materials, which were gown without chemical interference such as fertilization or pest control. The active ingredients are produced in natural procedures and environmental-friendly (cold pressing) methods. The packages are also non-contaminating and recyclable.

WHAT IS COSMOS® ?

Cosmos is an association of 5 of the world’s leading standards-setters for organic cosmetics: French Ecocert and Cosmebio, German BDIH, Italian ICEA and British Soil Association. These five organizations certify collectively 85% of the entire certified organic market.

Cosmos certified cosmetics incorporate the values and ideals of each one of these organization, and therefore these products offer consumers the best of each world.

Characteristics of certified organic cosmetics:

YES:

*Organic and natural ingredients.

*Recyclable packaging.

*Environmentally-friendly manufacturing methods.

*Accountability to consumers and environment.

NO:

*S.L.S

*Mineral Oil.

*Silicones

*PEG

*Carbomers

*Parabens

*synthetic perfumes or dyes.

B4U's certifoed organic products offer up to 50-90% organic ingredients in every skin care product. This percentage is much higher then Cosmos demands and guarantees a true organic experience.

The secret of Dead Sea cosmetics

Being a natural wonder, the Dead Sea is the saltiest lake in the world and the lowest place on earth, at -420 meters below sea level.

Over millions of years, the hot dry air and high evaporation rate have led to a content of 32% salts, comparing to 3% salts in ordinary sea water. This high concentration includes 21 minerals, 12 of which are not found in any other ocean or sea. These minerals are known to cure skin diseases, maintaining the chemical balance of the skin, stimulating blood circulation and eliminating toxins from the skin.

Minerals Plus lines is based on these minerals, and combines them with additional nutrients:

Argan oil contains a high concentration of antioxidants that protect the skin. In addition, Argan oil smoothes and hydrates the skin.

Omega 3, 6 & 9- restore the cutaneous barrier and the epidermal elasticity.

Regular use of the line maintains skin hydration, radiance and suppleness.

The Science of Plant Stem Cells: sustainable technology for natural efficacy.

Our skin has the potential to remain young.

This potential exists in our stem cells, which are located in the basal layer of epidermis. A stem cell is a non-specialized cell capable of self-renewal that has the potential to become many types of specialized cells (Cell Differentiation).

Like us, plants also have stem cells that serve the same purpose of regeneration. Recent studies have demonstrated that certain plant stem cells, when combined in skin care products, produce bioactive response to environmental and biological attacks and provide a strong anti-aging effect.

Plant Stem Cells culture is an innovative and sustainable technology for natural and powerful anti-aging cosmetics products.

 The range of the Absolute ORGANIC Green Dermo Cosmetics contains some of the best natural anti-aging ingredients with beneficial properties that were proven in efficacy tests:

LEONTOPODIUM ALPINUM STEM CELLS GX ™-for wrinkle filling and firming.

GARDENIA STEMS GX ™ - for collagen restructuring- multi level protection of the collagen network

ECHINACEA STEMS GX™- dark circle fading

All the products contain pure and natural Hyaluronic Acid for intensive moisture and protection from external aggressions.

Rosehip oil: a healer since the ancient times

Rosehip Oil is organic oil that has been considered a healer since ancient times and had been used by the ancient Egyptians, Mayans and Native Americans. Rosehip Oil is full nutrients that offer the skin numerous benefits:

  1. Reducing fine lines and wrinkles- thanks to its high content of Vitamin C which stimulates Collagen growth
  2. Combatting photo-aging (aging caused by UV rays) - thanks to its antioxidants, which fight the free radicals
  3. Improving the skin’s moisture level, tone and texture- thanks to its precious essential acids

Organix Cosmetix Rosehip Oil line is based on organic rosehip oil that offers natural anti-aging solutions for a healthy and balanced skin!

Hyaluronic Acid: a key player for wrinkle-reducing and hydration

Hyaluronic Acid is the most effective moisturizing agent for the skin, and skin moisturization is the base for healthy beauty and anti-aging routine.

Hyaluronic Acid maintains the hydration balance thanks to its strong ability to retain water. It fills the space between Collagen fibers in the dermis, leading to the appearance of volume.

During the aging process, the production of Hyaluronic Acid decreases and skin requires Hyaluronic Acid from an external source in order to maintain a healthy appearance.

The products of the Hyaluronic Acid line form a film at the surface of the skin, and help the skin regulate its water balance. This film also protects the skin from external aggressions.

Regular use of the Hyaluronic Acid line leads to a younger-looking skin, that feels soft and smooth all day long.

Want to hear more? Let’s talk