A team of more than 50 scientists have changed the face of skincare with a revolutionary 'world-first' innovation using the advance science of Artificial Intelligence, computer algorithms, machine learning, robotics and computer modelling. Through global collaboration and expertise from the University of Liverpool, Nottingham, and Manchester, Nottingham's Boots today (Monday, April 10) unveils No7 Future Renew - a collection of four skincare products proven to reverse the appearance of multiple signs of skin damage. The products are expected to fly off the shelves when released.
The range will be sold exclusively at Boots stores and online from April 12 and comprises a Serum, Eye Serum, Night Cream and Day Cream with SPF40. At the heart of the collection is the No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Serum, clinically proven to reverse the appearance of multiple signs of skin damage across a range of skin types and tones, including fine lines, wrinkles, lack of luminosity, dryness, uneven skin tone and loss of firmness. In No7’s most diverse testing programme, 97% of women in the clinical study reported improvements in the appearance of multiple visible signs of skin damage. More than 4,200 women took part in 37 studies, including two clinical trials and 23 user trials.
The technical lead on the team lives in Beeston, and is 34-year-old Dr Eleanor Bradley, Science Credentialing Manager at No7 Beauty Company, who has spoken to Nottinghamshire Live exclusively about the game-changing new skincare product using a new "super peptide" (Peptides are amino acids that make up certain proteins needed by the skin).
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Scientists evaluated thousands of possible peptide combinations to identify this new super peptide, a blend of two novel synthetic tetra-peptides, pal-GPKG and pal-LSVD, which mimic naturally occurring peptides in the skin to boost the skin’s natural self-repair function.
Robotic technology at the University of Liverpool’s Materials Innovation Factory and mathematical modelling techniques were used to optimise the formulation textures and delivery system for penetration of the peptides to where they are needed and work the best. As a result, penetration is predicted to be 50% better than existing formulations.
Dr Bradley has been has been working with peptides for around 13 years - but this peptide itself, in terms of the back story, has been 15 years in the making. "It is No7's biggest innovation that we have ever had, so we are very excited from a scientist perspective to finally launch this and talk about it", she said.
No7 Future Renew is all about damage reversal, from things like long-term exposure to sunlight, pollution, stress and nutrition, and comes in a serum - for the full face and neck - a day cream with SPF40 - the highest ever SPF day cream for No7 - and a night cream (all priced at £34.95) and an eye serum (£24.95).
Dr Bradley said: "In terms of what is in the product, so we have this new innovation technology in the range, and it's a new peptide technology. This is the part we have been working on for 15 years now - and it is really based on understanding how the skin gets damaged".
Boots had its scientists working with scientists at the University of Manchester, who are real experts in terms of understanding skin damage, understanding peptide technology, and really tapping into the skins natural repair process - to really kind of bring in new peptides. "We have a blend of two different peptides combined together into this world-first technology - it is a world-first in terms of this new peptide technology," said Dr Bradley.
"So we have been working with them to create these two new peptides, based on quite advanced science, I would say, so right through this development there has been quite a lot of advanced science. We have used stuff like AI, computer algorithms, machine learning, we have used robotics, computer modelling, and, obviously, here in Nottingham, we have some expertise ourselves in terms of expert formulation work, so real advanced science throughout the whole of this development."
AI stands for Artificial intelligence – Machine learning was utilised to identify naturally-occurring peptide sequences released from key skin molecules including collagens and elastic-fibre proteins, which were then tested using state-of-the-art omics techniques to characterise their skin remodelling activity and find the most powerful for deep down skin repair.
"We have worked with the University of Liverpool, for example, where they have robotic facilities making formulations, and of course, it has been developed in our labs in Nottingham in terms of the formulation," explained Dr Bradley.
A huge number of scientists work at their labs at Boots' headquarters in Thane Road, Beeston - proudly one of the biggest employers for the city - where they have formulation experts and biologists. They can grow skin cells in dishes there, have the capabilities in terms of testing products, and a huge panel of testers.
The range itself has been tested on 4,200 consumers so far - that number is growing, the scientists are not stopping now. There have been 37 studies to date, of 4,200 people, and really importantly for Boots, 51% of those were skin of colour, so the team has really been trying to increase the diversity of its test panel.
"That has kind of been a few years in the making, really trying to push in terms of diversity, so that is a really key part of this launch as well, making sure it works for different skin tones, also skin ages as well, so a very diverse age range for this," said Dr Bradley. "We have tested on 30 up to 75 years old, so a very diverse test panel.
"It's very exciting and it's all about targeting visual signs of skin damage, so things like uneven skin tone, uneven texture, dryness, lack of firmness, of course lines and wrinkles as well, and your skin can lose that bounce and that firmness in the feel as well.
"It's our biggest ever innovation and 15 years in the making in terms of the peptide technology. Serum is going to work against everything - that is the most highly concentrated by these new peptides. It has this very advanced delivery system.
"We have of course done the work with the University of Nottingham as well. The range has the same peptides throughout and the various different ingredients - the likes of niacinamide in there, which is great for skin health, hyaluronic acid, which is great for hydrating the skin - it binds lots of water, hyaluronic acid, so its great for hydrating and plumping the skin, and we also have Vitamin C in there and antioxidants - so lots of great ingredients to help those peptides as well in terms of this damage reversal that products will do."
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