Collagen Lift

Professional Review

Every once in a while, someone comes along and asks me for the ultimate in luxury serums. They’re often lured into the fancy packaging and marketing of a LaMer or a LaPrairie.

When people ask me this question, I like to lead them towards MDSUN Collagen Lift. This product has all of the advanced hard-to-find anti-agers, like repair enzymes, plant stem cells, and human stem cells, all rolled up into one product. It’s a lot better than paying for fermented seaweed (as is the case with LaMer), and while $715 is a hefty price tag, it also is more economical than buying a $150 repair enzyme serum + $150 plant stem cell cream + $200 human stem cell serum + $150 peptide serum.

Again, MDSUN Collagen Lift is not for everyone. But if you’re in the 1% looking for a truly exceptional serum, this is only one of a few out there at this price range that I think is worth it.

Plant Stem Cells

Plant stem cells are often controversial in skincare, probably only because they sound too “sci-fi” or hokey in name. But, in truth, there is significant evidence to suggest they may improve the appearance of skin with regular use over time.

The first reason they work is because the actions of both human and plant stem cells are dictated by the environment, not by the cells’ internal programming. For instance, isolated plant stem cells are able to form entire plant organs when exposed to the right signaling factors (Cell, 2003). Plant stem cells are able to detect genetic damage in their environment, and kill off those damaged cells before the damage spreads (Science Daily, 2009).

The second reason? Evidence. Statistically significant changes have been detected in human skin after using plant stem cells.  After two weeks of using a product containing these plant stem cell extracts, consumers have seen a significant reduction in the depth of crow’s feet wrinkles by 8 percent; the reduction in the depth of crow’s feet after four weeks reached 15 percent (Inside Cosmeceuticals, 2009).

The following plant stem cells are included in MDSUN Collagen Lift:

• Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
• Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture
• Gardenia Jasminoides Meristem Cell Culture
• Echinacea Angustifolia Meristem Cell Culture

Synthetic Human Stem Cells

Synthetic human stem cells are likely to work in two ways: First, via signaling, as described above (“plant stem cells”). And, secondly, due not only to the cells themselves, but the media with human growth factors that they are cultured in.

With growth factors, it has been proposed in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology that topically-applied human growth factors may be beneficial in reducing signs of skin aging due to their capacity in promoting dermal fibroblast and keratinocyte proliferation, and in increasing collagen production.  Growth factors have shown promise to enhance wound healing following dermatological treatments with lasers or dermatologic surgery, reduce wrinkling, and increase skin smoothness.

MDSUN Collagen Lift contains the following synthetic human stem cells:

• Human Adipose Stromal Cell Conditioned Media Extract
• Human Fibroblast Conditioned Media

SNAP-8 Acetyl Octapeptide-3

SNAP-8 is an extension of argireline, or Acetyl hexapeptide-3, which works on the same muscle-to-nerve connections as Botox®.

Acetyl hexapeptide-3 blocks signals from the nerves to the muscles. The affected muscle can no longer contract, which causes the wrinkles to relax and soften.

Like Botox®, acetyl hexapeptide-3 must be used on expression lines, or wrinkles like forehead lines, crow’s feet (lines around the eye), and frown lines. Wrinkles caused by sun damage and gravity will not respond to muscle relaxers.

Matrixyl 3000

Matrixyl (palmitoyl pentapeptide) is a fantastic addition to MDSUN Collagen Lift. Matrixyl may stimulate collagen production when used consistently over time. Like Argireline, Matrixyl is always a peptide combined with a fatty acid component, in order to increase its penetration into the skin. At the 2002 World Congress of Dermatology in Paris, France, use of a cream containing 8% Matrixyl was found to decrease wrinkle depth by 68% and wrinkle density by 47% over six months. Matrixyl, like argireline, promotes fibroblasts to produce collagen, but has the additional benefit of promoting hyaluronic acid production in the skin.

While Matrixyl is the brand name, it’s chemical name is palmitoyl pentapeptide-4. It seems palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 is the accepted name now; previously, the International Nomenclature of Cosmetics Ingredients name for the compound was palmitoyl pentapeptide-3. At any rate, Matrixyl/palmitoyl pentapeptide-3/palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 is popular in skin care products due to its possible collagen-stimulating activity, increasing skin’s firmness over time.

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-29

Palmitoyl tripeptide-29 is a three chain amino acid shown to increase fibroblast activity for collagen I synthesis by 400 percent (Dermascope). This increase in support within the skin helps to minimize the look of fine lines and wrinkles with regular use over time. It may also help with skin conditioning.

Myoxinol LS

Myoxinol™ LS 9736 is an oligopeptide complex derived from the okra plant, Hibiscus esculentus. It is typically used to smooth expression lines, or eliminate or reduce frequency of invasive procedures (UL Prospector).

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 (Syn®-Coll), which has been reported by The International Journal of Cosmetic Science to be a synthetic signal peptide that mimics the thrombospondin I tripeptide sequence to activate TGF-β, thereby promoting collagen formation via TGF-β. In a controlled trial, 60 healthy volunteers received 2.5% Syn®-Coll cream vs. 10% palmitoyl pentapeptide-3 cream vs. placebo cream twice daily for 84 days, and Syn®-Coll significantly decreased average and maximum relief by −22 and −36 μm respectively.

Bottom Line

If you’re looking for the ultimate in luxury skin care, I highly recommend MDSUN Collagen Lift over other luxury serums out there. It covers all the bases of “advanced atypical” skincare that is hard to find, including repair enzymes, stem cells, growth factors and peptides. I give it two enthusiastic thumbs-up!

Ingredients

Plant Stem Cells, Synthetic Human Stem Cells, Peptides, Collagen, Gold, Protein, and Plant Cell Culture Extracts