What is Bioavailability and How Does it Affect Skin Care?

As cosmetic companies continue to make advances in skin care, consumers are hearing more about bioavailability, a term that we may not be familiar with but can have a profound impact on the effectiveness of our skin care.

What is bioavailability?  According to a popular medical dictionary, bioavailability is “the degree to which a drug or other substance becomes available to the target tissue after administration”.  In the world of skin care, bioavailability encompasses three main factors:

1. Is There Enough of The Active Ingredient to Make a Difference?  We’ve written previously about the importance of the concentrations of active ingredients in order for them to be truly beneficial.  An ingredient’s placing on the ingredient list can give you a good indication of how much is included.  Although companies often omit the percentage of active ingredients for reasons of ‘trade secrets’, the FDA does require companies to list ingredients in order of highest to lowest concentration.  Check to ensure that the active ingredient(s) you are paying for appear near the top of the list.  If listed in the second half, the product may not include enough to make a difference.
2. Is The Active Ingredient in the Right Type of Base Carrier to do Its Job? This is where inactive ingredients come into play.  These can include water, oil, stabilizers, emulsifiers, thickeners and preservatives, to name a few.  While inactive ingredients don’t exert a specific action on skin, they do perform important functions in making skin care products effective.
3. Can the Ingredients Reach the Epidermal Layer Where it Will be Most Effective?  The molecular size and weight of active ingredient both play a crucial role in whether it can reach its target cells.  Too large of a size results in the active ingredient sitting on the surface of the skin, preventing it from reaching the epidermal layer and doing its intended job.  The condition of the skin can also hinder the active ingredients from penetrating deeply into the skin.  Residue from makeup and sunscreen as well as dry skin cells can all create barriers and influence the efficacy of a product.

The skin care industry involves extensive research and scientific expertise as it continues to make advances in the effectiveness of the products offered.  The next time someone asks why your skin looks so great, tell them it’s all about bioavailability.