If you're a lover of Fresh Face Skin, you've surely seen L22 show up in our ingredient list from time to time. But what does this star ingredient really do, and why do we love it so much? In this article, we'll break down what L22 is, what it does, and why we think it's a highly beneficial ingredient for your skin. We'll also include some products that use L22 in their formulations and how it works together with other ingredients to ensure you've got the best of the best in barrier-strengthening skincare.
What is L22?
L22 is a special blend of natural oils derived from Jojoba, Macadamia, and Olive. It's formulated to mimic the optimal lipid barrier of a 22-year-old's skin, promoting hydration, smoothing lines, reducing redness, and improving elasticity for youthful, protected skin. The choice of ingredients isn't random either; each component in this blend plays a critical role in achieving the desired skin lipid profile found in young, healthy skin.
Based on the ratios of lipids present in optimal skin, L22 leverages a natural blueprint to offer a solid foundation for innovative and effective skincare products. This is especially important because as we age, the lipid composition of our skin oil changes, making the delivery of a balanced mix of these youthful lipids crucial. As such, we need to use blends like L22 to provide long-term hydration and maintain the skin's smoothness by supporting its natural barrier function.
Why Mimic the Lipid Barrier of a 22-Year-Old?
Mentioned throughout this article, we refer to L22 mimicking the lipid barrier of a 22-year-old, this is because the lipid barrier of a 22-year-old is considered optimal for as they have balanced hydration, elasticity, and firmness. A study called ‘A botanically derived skin surface lipid mimetic based on the composition of healthy 22-year-old females’ found that skin oils at this age consist of a harmonious blend of fats like glycerides and free fatty acids, which are instrumental in maintaining skin health.
However, as we age, our skin's ability to produce these essential lipids diminishes, leading to drier, less elastic, and more vulnerable skin. Another study, ‘Age-related changes in skin barrier function – Quantitative evaluation of 150 female subjects,’ showed a significant decrease in sebum production with age, especially after 70, leading to drier skin and altered skin surface lipids. Additionally, age-related changes in skin pH, particularly around menopause, further complicate skin health. So, by replicating the lipid profile of young, healthy skin, L22 offers a botanical solution to these challenges, aiming to restore barrier function, hydration, and elasticity.
How L22 Works to Protect the Lipid Barrier
The protection of the lipid barrier is crucial for maintaining skin health as it guards against environmental aggressors, retains moisture, and supports skin repair. So, L22's blend of oils from Jojoba, Macadamia, and Olive acts as a fortifying agent.
For example, Jojoba oil is used because it's celebrated for its oxidative stability and ability to enhance the absorption of topical treatments. It repairs skin barriers altered by conditions like dermatitis and acne while offering anti-inflammatory benefits.
While Olive oil, rich in oleic acid and antioxidants, provides anti-inflammatory and reparative properties, aiding in skin healing and protection against oxidative damage. The phenolic compounds in olive oil also exhibit higher antioxidant properties than vitamin E, contributing to its long-standing use in skin and hair care.
And finally, Macadamia oil, with its unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E, enhances skin moisture and softness while supporting cell regeneration. Its components, including palmitoleic acid, which decreases with age, help restore the skin barrier and reduce water loss. Phytosterols in macadamia oil offer additional benefits, like soothing irritated skin and reducing redness.
By combining these oils, L22 not only replenishes the skin’s natural lipids but also supports its ability to repair and protect itself.
Products That Contain L22 That Can Save Your Skin
Hydrate Me Travel Pack
This pack incorporates a range of Fresh Products enriched with L22, designed to enhance skin health through hydration, protection, and repair. It includes the Soother Cleanser, Hydration Booster, and Soother Treatment.
The Soother Cleanser combines L22 with Saponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, and Glycine Soja Oil to gently remove impurities while strengthening the lipid barrier. This reduces sensitivity and redness, promoting optimal skin health and protection. The blend feeds the skin's microbiome, ensuring a balanced and healthy complexion.
Although the Hydration Booster doesn't contain L22, this serum is packed with skin-defending ingredients like hydrolysed hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate acid, Niacinamide, and extracts from Davidson and Kakadu plums. These ingredients work in synergy to provide deep hydration, strengthen the skin’s defences, and promote a balanced and healthier complexion, complementing the effects of L22 in other products.
The Soother Treatment is enhanced with L22 and combines Pomegranate, Yarrow, and Camellia oils to directly reduce skin sensitivity by reinforcing the lipid barrier. It eases irritation, reduces surface redness, and balances natural oil flow, which helps in preserving moisture and clearing pore blockages, leading to an improved skin condition and texture.
Bright Eyes
Specifically targeting the delicate eye area, this product contains L22, Olivem 100, Easyliance, Papango, Argireline Peptide, and NaturePep Quinoa. It offers hydration, fine line prevention, gentle exfoliation, and depuffing to rejuvenate tired eyes, reduce pigmentation, and brighten the skin, effectively combating signs of ageing and tiredness.
Recovery Mask
This mask is a calming and restorative blend that features L22 combined with a rich selection of nurturing components. Aloe Vera and Glycerin provide intense hydration, while Vitamin E and Panthenol offer healing benefits. The existing style of Article A seems to be informative and promotional, aimed at describing the benefits and ingredients of a skincare product, likely a facial mask. It employs a scientific and somewhat sophisticated language typical of skincare and cosmetic articles, aiming to reassure and educate the consumer about the product's benefits and ingredients.
Bio-actives like Niacinamide work to calm irritation and redness, enhancing the skin's natural defences. The formula also includes plant-based ceramides from Bioline ingredients such as Argan, Shea, Avocado, Sunflower, and Rosehip, which are key in restoring the skin’s acid mantle and strengthening the lipid barrier. The addition of Gluconolactone, a polyhydroxy acid (PHA), offers gentle exfoliation while attracting moisture, further supporting the skin's recovery process. This mask not only alleviates dryness but also ensures the skin remains smooth, moisturised, and soft, embodying a perfect balance of bioline and bioactive elements for optimum skin health.
L22 is a revolutionary ingredient in the realm of skincare, especially for those looking to recapture the essence of youthful skin. By mimicking the lipid profile of a 22-year-old's skin, L22-based products promote hydration, elasticity, and firmness, addressing the natural ageing process.
