BODI-D Cosmetics products are clinically tested at the following licensed laboratories:

• Clinic of Dermal and Venereal Diseases, Medical University , Varna, Bulgaria.
• Skin Functional Diagnostics Department, Clinic of Dermatology and Venerealogy, Sveti Georgi Medical University, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

We provide excerpts of the Protocol of the clinical assessment of the Roibosstar Line products:

Recovery Eye Contour Cream

Twenty one healthy human volunteers, females aged between 35 and 63 years were considered for analysis through a preliminary clinical examination, a special questionnaire for skin type determination and quantification of skin moisture content and lipid levels.

For assessing the skin relief Visioscope Color 32 USB (Courage + Khazaka, Koeln , Germany ), computer-assisted with SELS 2000 (Surface Evaluation of the Living Cells) software were used.

Conclusions: The medical and biological study of Roibos Recovery Eye Contour Cream, manufactured by BODI-D Cosmetics, Plovdiv , Bulgaria through evaluation of the skin relief after a 4-week daily regimen showed beneficial skin surface texture changes in the eye area demonstrated as:

• Reduction of skin scaling by 27 %
• Reduction of skin roughness by 13 %
• Reduction of the number and width of wrinkles by 5 %
• Reduction of the depth of wrinkles by 10 %

These results provide evidence of the efficiency of this new skin care product.

Study conducted by: Dr. H. Dobrev, Ass. Prof., Head of Skin Functional Diagnostics, Clinic of Dermatology and Venerealogy, Sveti Georgi University Hospital, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

• Reviving Hydrating Day Cream
• Intensive Night Cream – Antioxidant
• Cleansing and Nourishing Milk
• Facial Toner
• Nourishing Hand Cream

Clinical tests were performed to study and evaluate the skin compatibility of the above-mentioned products, i.e. the exclusion of irritation due to cosmetics and to assess their cosmetic benefits.

The skin compatibility technique was in compliance with COLIPA (the European Cosmetic Toiletries and Perfumery Association) Guidelines: Cosmetic Product Test Guidelines for the Assessment of Human Skin Compatibility. The testing involved twenty five healthy human volunteers, females aged between 20 and 60 years.

The volunteers were selected considering inclusion and exclusion criteria for volunteers: good physical and mental health, absence of dermal diseases (non atopical, non allergic to cold or medications and without any current or known past contact allergy to cosmetics), who do not take medications interfering with cosmetic ingredient activity (corticosteroids, antihistamines).

The following Roibos products were studied: Reviving Hydrating Day Cream, Intensive Night Cream – Antioxidant, Cleansing and Nourishing Milk, Facial Toner, Nourishing Hand Cream, and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and mineral oil were used for reference.

The clinical studies involved the following methods: endocrine open epicutaneous test; closed epicutaneous test, repeated application; non controllable consumer test; closed epicutaneous test after the end of the consumer test.

Results: The single open epicotaneous test showed negative results in the 25 volunteers tested.

The test results demonstrated that Roibos skin care products were non irritant under the mode of application indicated. The repeated application closed epicutaneous test showed negative results in the same volunteers, confirming that Roibos products showed no skin irritancy under occlusion. The product good skin compatibility was also demonstrated by the absence of adverse skin reactions (irritation or sensitization) when used daily. The negative results of the epicutaneous tests 30 days after the end of the consumer test showed that Roibos cosmetic products possess no allergenic potential.

The regular use of Roibos products provided objective and subjective improvement in human skin: good skin nourishing, moisturizing and softening effect, fine fragrance.

Conclusions: When following the directions for use Roibos skin care products: Reviving Hydrating Day Cream, Intensive Night Cream – Antioxidant, Cleansing and Nourishing Milk, Facial Toner and Nourishing Hand Cream are skin compatible. They do not cause skin irritation and allergy.

Studies conducted by: Dr. S. Racheva, Cief Assistant, Head of Skin Allergy Department; Prof. Dr. Z. Penev – Head of Study, Clinic of Dermal And Venereal Diseases, Medical University, Varna, Bulgaria.

 We provide excerpts of the Protocols of the clinical assessment of BILLE - BA Skin Whitening Line products:

BILLE – BA Skin Whitening Cream and BILLE – BA Skin Whitening Lotion

Clinical tests were performed to study and evaluate the skin compatibility of BILLE – BA Skin Whitening Cream and BILLE – BA Skin Whitening Lotion, i.e. the exclusion of irritation due to cosmetics and to assess their cosmetic benefits.

The skin compatibility technique was in compliance with COLIPA (the European Cosmetic Toiletries and Perfumery Association) Guidelines: Cosmetic Product Test Guidelines for the Assessment of Human Skin Compatibility.

The testing involved twenty five healthy human volunteers, females aged between 20 and 60 years. The volunteers were selected considering inclusion and exclusion criteria for volunteers: good physical and mental health, absence of dermal diseases (non atopical, non allergic to cold or medications and without any current or known past contact allergy to cosmetics), who do not take medications interfering with cosmetic ingredient activity (corticosteroids, antihistamines). BILLE – BA Skin Whitening Cream and BILLE – BA Skin Whitening Lotion were studied, and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and mineral oil were used for reference. The clinical studies involved the following methods: endocrine open epicutaneous test; closed epicutaneous test, repeated application; non controllable consumer test; closed epicutaneous test after the end of the consumer test.

Results:

The single open epicotaneous test showed negative results in the 25 volunteers tested. The test results demonstrated that BILLE – BA Skin Whitening Cream and BILLE – BA Skin Whitening Lotion were non irritant under the mode of application indicated. The repeated application closed epicutaneous test showed negative results in the same volunteers, confirming that BILLE – BA Skin Whitening Cream and BILLE – BA Skin Whitening Lotion showed no skin irritancy under occlusion. The product good skin compatibility was also demonstrated by the absence of adverse skin reactions (irritation or sensitization) when used daily.

The negative results of the epicutaneous tests 30 days after the end of the consumer test showed that BILLE – BA Skin Whitening Cream and BILLE – BA Skin Whitening Lotion possess no allergenic potential.

The use of BILLE – BA Skin Whitening Cream and BILLE – BA Skin Whitening Lotion provided objective and subjective improvement in human skin: good skin lightening, moisturizing and softening properties, fine fragrance.

Conclusions:

When following the directions for use BILLE – BA Skin Whitening Cream and BILLE – BA Skin Whitening Lotion are skin compatible. They do not cause skin irritation and allergy.

Studies conducted by: Dr. S. Racheva, Cief Assistant, Head of Skin Allergy Department; Prof. Dr. Z. Penev – Head of Study, Clinic of Dermal And Venereal Diseases, Medical University, Varna, Bulgaria.

ROIBOS Cosmetic Line Products Inhibit Damaging Free Radicals

Dr. Slava Bahchevanska, Ass. Prof.
Biotechnology Department, University of Food Technology, Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Cosmetics is designed to care about and maintain human skin and body healthy, beautiful and young. Modern women and men of all aging from every walk of their speedy lifestyle want to be good-looking “right now and forever”. That is the reason why aesthetical medicine is using radical facial surgery to remove the existing signs of aging skin. The scientific evidence to date confirms that undesirable skin changes are due not to intrinsic aging only, but also to extrinsic factors. Environmental pollution (smoke, dust, industrial gases, microorganisms), along with ultraviolet and ionization radiation are major causes of free radical formation. While young skin contains a system of bio-active substances (vitamins, enzymes), which protects the epidermis from harmful environmental effects, with age your skin's natural antioxidant defense dramatically decreases. Extrinsic and intrinsic factors can result in sagging skin, premature wrinkling, scaling, dryness, age spots, skin discolorations, etc.

Modern free radical theory of premature skin aging recommends the use of skin care products containing antioxidants to scavenge free radicals.

Recent scientific evidence recognizes the importance of bioflavonoids as active antioxidants, which do play a significant role in the prevention and treatment of numerous skin problems. There have been more than 5000 of these bio-actives discovered to date. They have similar chemical nature and occur in various plants and flowers, protecting them from environmental aggressions.

There are about 50 diseases with symptoms on which the therapeutic effects of bioflavonoids have been well documented. They have been shown to possess spasmolitic, anti-inflammatory, anti-radiation, radioprotective, antibacterial, anticarcinogenic and potent antitumor activity. They aid to the repair of nervous and muscle tissue, help skin accumulate collagen, thus promoting skin healing. They bind metal ions in chelate complexes and as such are recommended for removal of toxic doses of heavy metals and other toxic substances from the system. Forming such complexes, bioflavonoids inactivate some enzymes, destroying substances as hormones, sulfur containing amino acids, which play an important role in the system. For example, hyaluronic acid, a major component of the capillary matrix, is degraded by the specific enzyme hyaluronidase, resulting in swollen and fragile capillaries. Bioflavonoids block this enzyme hydrolytic activity, supporting capillary strength and proper vascular function.

The use of bioflavonoids in cosmetics is based on their being potent scavengers of oxygen radicals. This is the primary reason why bioflavonoids are therapeutically effective. It is this action that bolsters the immunity and counters skin aging. It is particularly important to preserve vitamin E in skin care products and in the skin structure. This can be accomplished by a combination of vitamin E and more powerful antioxidants as flavonoids.

Another advantage of bioflavonoids is their ability to absorb damaging UV rays in the range 280-340 nm. Thus, they reduce the environmental hazards of UVA and UVB skin radiation and are recommended as biological photoprotective factors, when combined with other sunscreens.

The importance of bioflavonoids for the cosmetic industry is recognized by a powerful advertising campaign, focusing on their antioxidant activity. The recently very popular Picnogenol, claimed to be “a skin elexire” is a pine bark extract, rich in bioflavonoids and other bio-active substances. Leading multinational manufacturers of skin care products patent protect various compositions of plant extracts and concentrates, containing bioflavonoids in a wide range from 0.01 to 4 %.

The use of flavonoids as highly effective bio-active substances and powerful antioxidants is recommended in skin care products (lotions, creams, masks, etc.) and in hair care products (shampoo, conditioners, hair colorants, etc.).

The Cosmetic Directives of the European Community introduced in Bulgaria in 2003 require cosmetic manufacturers to provide evidence of the benefits of the active ingredients included in their finished products. That is the reason why leading companies not only indicate product ingredients in their advertising materials, but also point out product bio-activity and the effects on skin health and beauty.

The new cosmetic line with the exotic South-African plant Roibos (Aspalanthus linearis) is a genuine development, including six skin care products. These products successfully combine well known bio-actives (vitamins, alpha-hydroxy acids, panthenol, etc.) and Roibos flavonoids. Their synergistic antioxidant effects have been proven. At the research biotechnology laboratory at the University of Food Technology , Plovdiv , Bulgaria the antioxidant activity of the product samples has been evaluated. The aqueous extracts from the new cosmetic products were found to inhibit a reagent (a stable form of free radicals) in the range 57 – 82 %. This high antioxidant effect of the finished products confirms their anticipated potential in skin protection from environmental aggressions and premature skin aging.