Winter: A grueling season for dry and sensitive skin.
Cold winds trigger immediate redness; cleansing leaves the face feeling tight and stripped. The skin barrier acts like a “drafty wall”—while you attempt to hydrate on one side, moisture is rapidly escaping from the other.
How can dry and sensitive skin survive the winter smoothly?
Evonik’s all-new Water-Soluble Ceramide, SKINLIPIX® HydraShield, steps into the arena!
SKINLIPIX® HydraShield: Product Profile
INCI Name: Ceramide NP; Ceramide NG; Sorbitol; Water; Betaine; Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate; Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Appearance:
Raw Material
1% & 3% Aqueous Solution:
Technological Background: Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES) Technology × Innovative NATUCERA® Process
Solved Application Pain Points: Cold processable; Water-dispersible.
Key Claims: Dual “Ceramide” nourishing combination (Ceramide NP & Ceramide NG); Barrier protection derived from vegetable oil-based ceramides and moisturizing factors.
Mechanisms of Action:
Repairs the “Drafty Wall” (Barrier reinforcement)
Locks in “Escaping Water” (Occlusion)
Binds “Thirsty Water” (Humectancy)
Transports “Deep Water” (Aquaporin activation)
Awards: 2025 Ringier Technology Innovation Award
Recommended Dosage: 1.5% – 5%
Beyond the profile, let’s take a deep dive into this high-performance debut.
First and foremost, SKINLIPIX® HydraShield is backed by the industry giant Evonik. Even before its launch, it had a precise mission: To solve the formulation application barriers of traditional ceramides!
Innovation: Water-Soluble, Cold Processable Ceramide
The Challenge:
Traditional ceramide products typically require high-temperature dissolution in oil during formulation and are prone to crystallization, creating significant challenges for formulators.
The Solution:
Evonik’s R&D team developed an innovative solution using Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES) technology.
- Technology: Sorbitol and Betaine act as a deep eutectic solvent to stabilize 2.25% Ceramide NP & Ceramide NG, while simultaneously functioning as humectants.
- Bio-Mimetic: Sourced from olive oil, this dual-ceramide combination precisely matches the lipid structure of human skin, enhancing absorption efficiency and barrier repair.
- Ease of Use: The product exists as a stable liquid, allowing for cold processing and direct dispersion in water, drastically simplifying formulation complexity.
Dual-Source Nourishment, Multi-Dimensional Hydration
Solving formulation issues is just the beginning. What truly distinguishes SKINLIPIX® HydraShield is its visualized efficacy in layer-by-layer moisture locking, making it a savior for dry, sensitive skin.
The Concept:
A healthy skin barrier is a solid wall, defending against pollutants, microbes, and chemical irritants while selectively allowing beneficial ingredients in.
In contrast, dry/sensitive skin has a “drafty” barrier. Weakened defense leads to redness from external irritants, while excessive Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL) causes dryness, tightness, fine lines, and roughness.
SKINLIPIX® HydraShield Action Mechanism:
- Repairs the “Leaking Wall”: Increases Ceramide content.
- Locks “Escaping Water”: Boosts Tight Junction proteins to prevent moisture loss.
- Binds “Thirsty Water”: Delivers moisturizing components.
- Transports “Deep Water”: Activates Aquaporins to increase water retention.
Scientific Validation (Ex Vivo Study):
Immunofluorescence staining studies on human skin explants evaluated the effect of SKINLIPIX® HydraShield on key markers for dry skin: Aquaporin-3, Tight Junction proteins, and Ceramides.
Results:
- Tight Junction Protein (Claudin-1): Increased by 71%, significantly strengthening the internal skin barrier and effectively retaining water.
- Aquaporin-3 (AQP3): Increased by 37%, improving skin hydration channels.
- Ceramide Content: Increased by 40%, ensuring effective delivery to the stratum corneum.
Barrier Repair: Resisting External Penetration
Ex Vivo Penetration Test:
Simulating the penetration of irritants from the outside in, the study showed:
- 1.5% Concentration: Achieved 20% barrier repair effect.
- 5% Concentration: Achieved 35% barrier repair effect, restoring barrier defense capabilities.
Clinical Testing: Immediate & Long-Term Hydration
SKINLIPIX® HydraShield delivers both instant hydration and sustained moisturizing effects.
1. Immediate Hydration
Within 2 hours of application, skin surface (stratum corneum) hydration levels significantly improved, demonstrating immediate efficacy.
2. Long-Term Moisturizing (Face & Legs)
Face: After 28 days, skin hydration imaging showed lighter colors in the SKINLIPIX® HydraShield group, indicating higher hydration levels. Notably, the moisturizing effect persisted 5 days after stopping usage.
Legs: Using the same methodology, deep grey color scales indicated superior skin hydration status.
3. Texture Improvement
Continuous use resulted in a visible improvement in skin texture on both the face and legs.
Formulation Applications
To demonstrate the unique water-soluble properties of SKINLIPIX® HydraShield, BioHope (Distributor) has developed two prototype formulations:
1. Golden Radiance Softening Lotion
Appearance: Semi-transparent / Translucent.
Advantage: 1% SKINLIPIX® HydraShield shows excellent stability with other water-soluble actives. It can be added after cooling to 45°C with simple stirring—no pre-dissolution required.
2. Crystal Clear Ceramide Shampoo
Appearance: Transparent.
Advantage: Even at 1.5% concentration in a high-surfactant system, the formula remains completely transparent and stable.
Interested in learning more?
For detailed product specifications, formulation guidelines, or to request samples, please contact us via email at DM COS!