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Mega-Bright: Origins’ new shining light in skin care |
Last week Dr Andrew Weil for Origins unveiled a new treatment product called Mega-Bright Skin Tone Correcting Serum. The product was presented to international media at Paramount at Centre Point in London.
The launch was attended by Origins Global Scientist for Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology Dr Lieve Declercq, and Dr Tieraona Low Dog, Fellowship Director for the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, and Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center.
The launch event began with an innovative interactive experience that encompassed all five senses: taste, sight, smell, sound and touch, in line with Dr Weil’s integrative approach to health and beauty. This was followed by in-depth presentations from Dr Declercq and Dr Low Dog, about the new Mega-Bright product and its properties.
According to recent NPD findings, women aged 35 and older rank age spots and discoloration as one of their top three ageing skin care concerns. Dr Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Bright Skin Tone Correcting Serum is clinically proven to instantly brighten skin and improve clarity and radiance, fighting both the cause of skin discoloration, while simultaneously combating the existing visible signs (dark spots, uneven skin tone) and preventing future development.
Dr Weil believes that inflammation, which can cause irritation in skin, is “the root cause of the most common and serious disease of ageing.” It is also a leading cause of dark spots and discoloration. Mega-Bright has been formulated to help counter this, on more than one level.
“Dr Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Bright Skin Tone Correcting Serum is revolutionary because it works in two ways,” explained Dr Declercq. “It helps keep irritation at bay, so melanin production isn’t triggered, which in turn [discourages] discoloration, dark spots and uneven skin tone from appearing. At the same time, it focuses on the existing signs, so they appear less visible to the naked eye.”
Unlike many prescribed treatments for discoloration, such as chemical peels and lasers, Mega-Bright is said to be effective, safe and gentle. Used twice daily, it is claimed to noticeably improve the evenness of skin tone. In clinical tests, skin tone appeared brighter, smoother and more radiant – and significantly younger-looking, with no unintended side effects.
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The Mega-Bright launch began with an innovative interactive experience that focused on the different senses |
“We are thrilled to launch this groundbreaking product with Dr Andrew Weil, one of the medical community’s most influential authorities,” declared Origins Global President/General Manager Jane Lauder. “By combining Dr Weil’s approach to health with the research and development of Origins Research Labs, we have found a way, in partnership with Mother Nature, to powerfully combat discoloration, dark spots, uneven skin tone and their root cause.”
Harnessing the power of plants
The Mega-Bright formula features integrative technology which combines highly potent anti-irritant ingredients to help quell the cascade of spot-triggering melanin with effective brightening ingredients to address outward signs of discoloration, according to the brand.
A key component is Rosa Roxburghii Complex, derived from a flowering bush that grows wild throughout Asia. Other key anti-irritant ingredients include Liquorice (one of the earliest Chinese medicinal herbs now known to brighten skin) and White Peony. Natural optics are said to help restore translucency to skin, and Vitamin C helps create a luminous, clear complexion.
In a recent 12-week clinical study on a group of adult women with all skin types, Mega-Bright proved to instantly brighten skin and improve clarity and radiance, according to Origins. 92% of subjects showed brighter, more even skin tone in just four weeks; 83% showed a visible reduction in the appearance of dark spots in four weeks.
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(L to r:) Dr Declercq, The Moodie Report’s Rebecca Mann and Dr Low Dog at the Mega-Bright launch event | |
Origins measured nine clinical endpoints including evenness of skin tone, reduction in the appearance of spots and improvement of clarity and radiance. Skin parameters were measured at five different time points.
The inflammation effect
Dr Low Dog – a senior colleague of Dr Weil – described integrative medicine as an exploration between mind, body and spirit. “When these are in balance, we experience health,” she explained. “Integrative medicine, at its core, is about getting to the root cause of a problem. And Dr Weil believes that the root cause of most disease is inflammation; that is what drives much of today’s chronic diseases.”
She continued: “It also drives problems with the skin. Inflammation is the slow-burning fire that can save your life – or damage your health. It is the cornerstone of the body’s healing process. But unchecked, in other parts of the body, it changes from being the fire that keeps you warm, to the fire that burns your house down. Small amounts in the right place is good; too much is very bad.”
Happily Dr Low Dog explained that inflammation can be reduced by certain lifestyle choices. Nutrition is fundamental, but other elements are involved too, as illustrated by the event’s interactive sensorial experience.
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Dr Low Dog (top) and Dr Declercq shed more light on the properties of Mega-Bright |
“That pathway where you re-engaged with all your senses earlier this morning drives home the point that stress itself causes inflammation,” she underlined. “It drives cortisol, adrenaline and other hormones that cause inflammation. So it’s important to manage. I believe that women in particular, who pride themselves on their ability to multi-task, are suffering simultaneously from sensory overload and sensory deprivation. Multi-tasking stresses the brain in ways that many scientists now think is unhealthy”¦So it is vital to stop, rest, taste, smell, listen and feel.”
Dr Low Dog concluded: “Dr Weil’s premise is not about covering things up, it’s about getting to the root cause. So [Mega-Bright] contains ingredients known to dampen down inflammation, which make dark spots go away, but also prevent them from coming back.
“It’s important to take care of the skin on the surface, but beauty and radiance come from within. You have to work on things on the inside, to have beauty on the outside.”
Delving deeper into Mega-Bright
“There’s a growing awareness that evenness of skin tone has an impact on how we perceive beauty and skin health,” noted Dr Declercq. “We also know that, depending on your genetic background, lifestyle, and even the city where you live, you will experience some kind of discoloration or dark spots at some point in your life.
“To counter this, today we are presenting something that is unique in its approach. We are going to address not only the outward symptoms of discoloration, but also the root cause.”
As mentioned, a key antidote to inflammatory discoloration is Mega-Bright’s Rosa Roxburghii Complex, which is claimed to help quell the cascade of spot-triggering melanin, while delivering effective brightening ingredients. It is complemented by the exfoliating effect of salicylic acid, which stimulates the natural removal of the dull, dark surface layers of the skin.
“Rosa Roxburghii is a beautiful flowering bush that grows wild throughout Asia,” noted Dr Declercq. “It contains highly potent anti-irritant ingredients that help quell melanin-triggering stress. It is known as “The King of Vitamin C,” and so also possesses strong antioxidant activity.
“Upon application, dark spots are diminished due to natural illuminators, and dullness and yellowness are replaced by a healthy glow.”
Mega-Bright also incorporates an essential oil blend, which delivers a fresh, floral scent with notes of citrus. Rose, jasmine, ylang, sweet orange, geranium, tuberose, violet and clove all feature.
Mega-Bright should be applied to clean skin, twice a day. The serum can be layered with other products.
In the UK, Mega-Bright will make its debut exclusively with Harrods on 1 February 2012, before rolling out nationally in March. The recommended domestic price point is £46/€62 for 30ml.
In a post-presentation interview, both Dr Declercq and Dr Low Dog emphasised the importance of a holistic approach to health and beauty. “If you are still going out in the sun, have a horrible diet, drink a lot of caffeine and alcohol, you can put the best creams in the world on your face but you will suffer the consequences over the long term,” cautioned Dr Low Dog.
“Skin is a good barometer of what is going on inside your body. It’s the interface between your internal and external worlds, so it’s reflective of your inner health.”
“You have to give your product the best chance to work,” added Dr Declercq. “I do believe that a good skin care routine is essential, but it has to go hand-in-hand with sensible [lifestyle choices] too.”
Dr Declercq underlined how Origins products incorporate the best of two very different worlds, as highlighted by its “powered by nature and proven by science” tag-line. “We only select natural ingredients based on their efficacy. They have to work better than anything we have had before. We have a benchmark and that’s what sets us apart [from the competition].”
She added: “We are always on the look-out for new ingredients, but we also use ingredients, such as liquorice, which have been around for a very long time. And sometimes we discover new properties of ingredients which are known to us, which is always exciting too.”
“I think that we have not even begun to scratch the surface with many of the plants, especially those found in China and the Indian sub-continent,” added Dr Log Dog. “There’s a lot of ethnobotany that suggests certain things might be useful”¦As science continues to evolve, and we understand physiology better, then we will understand more about what plants can actually do.”
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