Beyond the intoxicating scent and the pleasure of consuming a ripe peach, a new skin care active has been extracted from peach tree leaves. The extract has been shown to slow the signs of aging by stimulating cells to repair and protect themselves.
Peach leaf extract is rich in purified α-glucans, which stimulate the expression of vitagenes, a group of genes involved in cell homeostatis. Homestasis is the process of keeping things in a stable condition. The anti-aging activity of the peach leaf extract is based on hormesis, a principle describing a positive biological response to low doses of toxins or stressors. This action contributes to the skin’s capacity to prepare skin cells to protect against future stressors.
In a recent study, a 1% extract of the peach active ingredient was found to increase the expression of proteins which helps to reinforce the capacity of human fibroblasts (skin cells) to respond to stress. A 3% extract was tested for its anti-wrinkle action.70% of the volunteers noted a decrease in crow-s feet wrinkles, 61% showed a reduction in skin roughness and 56% showed a reduction in wrinkle volume.
Data is still preliminary but certainly shows promise. Look for peaches in your cream…
