In collaboration with Proven Skincare - the premier solution in personalized skincare - we’re here with a reminder that you are unique, from the vitamins and minerals you need to the skincare ingredients that will (and won’t) work for you. We discuss how genetics research and machine learning are changing skincare, plus learn 7 tips from a certified esthetician to improve your skin at home.
You Are Unique
When this blog was published, there were 7,731,699,177 people in the world, and no two are the same. Everyone is unique and there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution to skincare or nutrition, or finance for that matter. The past was filled with the tedious (often disastrous) trial and error process of finding the right products that work for your body...but now, we have answers!
In the words of Amy Yuan, Proven Skincare Co-Founder, PhD Computational Physics, “each active ingredient in your skincare should not only be purposeful but fine-tuned to your needs and environment. We believe personalization is the key to the most effective and efficient wellness - and it doesn't stop at skincare - nutrition, fitness and more can all be modified to best fit your needs.”
You deserve personalized wellness products that celebrate your individuality!
Genetics Matter
Chances are, you’re already personalizing your own skincare routine and you might not even realize it. Dr. Daniel Wallerstorfer PhD and co-founder of Rootine says, “we already personalize our sunscreen based on our genetics; you just may not have thought of it that way. If you have sensitive skin genes, you tend to burn easier and use stronger sunscreen. There are many other factors in our skin that behave in the same way.”
In fact, “we know of more than 20 genetic variations that have been shown in scientific studies to affect various aspects of the skin, including collagen breakdown and production, UV protection of the skin, skin hydration, oxidative stress, the effect of CoQ10, your selenium requirements, inflammatory reactions, and your biological age,” says Dr. Wallerstorfer PhD and co-founder of Rootine. We'll talk about a few now...
Rootine: Leveraging Data for Personalized Supplementation
Example: CoQ10
CoenzymeQ10 (aka CoQ10) is considered a strong antioxidant, protecting the skin from oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Initially it is inactive in the body and is converted into its active form, called ubiquinol, through the action of the NQO1 gene. The body produces CoQ10 but can also take it up through the diet or the skin. If the NQO1 gene is disrupted by a genetic variation, the corresponding NQO1 protein is not produced and CoQ10 is not converted into its active form, ubiquinol.
Dr. Daniel Wallerstorfer PhD says, “coenzyme Q10 is a popular and powerful substance that plays a role in free radical neutralization in the skin, which is why it is in many anti-aging creams. What most people don’t know is that 4% of the population lack a certain gene and cannot activate CoQ10 at all, and it remains useless.”
When Rootine detects this mutation, CoQ10 is removed from the user's formula (since it cannot be activated) and additional antioxidants (like ALA, vitamin C & E) are added to compensate from the loss of CoQ10 function. Learn more here.
Example: ALA (Alpha Lipoic Acid)
Another nutrient found in Rootine's daily vitamin packs is ALA, an antioxidant that has widespread use as a potent anti-inflammatory. It works in skin’s plasma membrane to fight free radical damage that can prematurely age the skin. The anti-inflammatory properties of Alpha Lipoic Acid make it a useful tool for calming redness, blotchiness from eczema and rosacea, and soothing irritated skin. This one’s a true multi-tasker, and is added to your daily pack in a higher amount if you cannot active CoQ10! Learn more here.
ALA Skin Benefits:
- Helps repair photo-aging
- Neutralizes free radicals
- Reduces appearance of wrinkles and fine lines
- Anti-inflammatory
Example: Collagen
Collagen consists of long flexible fibers that accumulate in the skin and give it firmness. Since collagen is crucial for the proper function of the skin, there are mechanisms which break down and remove old collagen from the skin. A certain enzyme in the skin performs this task. It is named MMP1 and is a so-called "collagenase." The removal of old collagen keeps the collagen fresh and functional and allows the skin to remain firm even with increasing age.
The building instructions for the MMP1 enzyme is encoded in the MMP1 gene. This gene controls exactly how the enzyme must be built and how much of the enzyme should be produced. According to Dr. Wallerstorfer PhD, “a gene variation in the MMP1 gene causes an excess of MMP1 enzyme to be produced and the collagen breakdown in the skin is too fast. The skin gradually loses its firmness and begins to age faster.”
Proven: Leveraging Data for Personalized Skincare
As you can see, there is plenty of data available on the individuality of skin, from genetics to lifestyle. In fact, “90% of the data in the world today has been created in the last two years, yet less than 1% has been analyzed,” according to Amy Yuan, co-founder of Proven Skincare.
Proven has set out to tackle this problem and leverage this huge amount of data to customize their skincare products to each user’s needs. By curating more than 20 million reviews on over 100,000 products, and collecting information on more than 20,000 ingredients, Proven has developed a data-driven system to personalized formulations for each customers’ needs.
Amy Yuan, PhD in Computational Physics simplified Proven’s personalization process into the following: “From user reviews, we first use semantic search to extract consumer demographics, skin concerns (aging, hyperpigmentation, acne, redness, etc.) and skin types when available, which covers an extremely vast and diverse group. Then, we use natural language processing to understand consumer feedback on the product. How do they feel? What do they like or dislike? Why are they feeling this way? By connecting what users feel and say about the product back to their personal characteristics, we can build a massive graph that helps us learn consumer preference, both individually and as a whole, which helps us create the best personalized formula for each user.”
7 Tips For Healthy Skin
Don’t feel overwhelmed with all the science, there are things you can do right now to improve your skin’s health. Portia Amaris, certified Esthetician of Proven Skincare, gave us her top 7 tips for healthy skin now and in the future:
- Probiotics have healing properties when taken orally and applied topically.
- Vitamin C is also essential for healthy skin. Your skin needs it to create collagen, which is the main structural protein that keeps your skin strong and healthy.
- Berry smoothies are rich in flavonoids which help your heart and your skin.
- Omega-3 fatty acids are necessary to keep skin supple and hydrated. A deficiency in omega-3 fats can even cause dry skin. You can take this in the form of supplements or by simply eating fish like salmon.
- The catechins found in green tea are powerful antioxidants which protect your skin against sun damage and reduce redness. They also aid in hydration, thickness and elasticity.
- Healthy skincare habits and eating habits go hand in hand. It is just as essential to Cleanse, Protect with SPF & Repair your skin daily as it is to eat a diet full of healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. This is why Rootine and Proven go hand-in-hand for optimal skincare.
- When skin is dehydrated it can look dry, wrinkled and under eyes can appear more pronounced, stay looking youthful by drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day. You can help your skin “lock” in the moisture by using a moisturizer, which creates a physical barrier to keep moisture in.
- Most importantly, ensure you're taking steps to personalize your nutrition and topical skincare needs.
Get Personalized
Rootine and Proven offer data-driven bespoke health products to optimize your skincare routine from the inside out (with personalized nutrients) and outside in (with personalized topical ingredients).
Enjoy 10% off the Proven Skincare experience with code: PROVENxROOTINEStart your new Rootine now, get started here.
