FILORGA’S 2-IN-1 SOLUTION FOR FACIAL WRINKLES AND IMPERFECTIONS

Published January 30, 2024

Women can find the appearance of their first wrinkles quite difficult, and more and more women are troubled by imperfections such as blackheads or acne pimples. Until now, these young women only had the option of using cosmetic treatments that targeted either wrinkles or imperfections, but never both. Laboratoires FILORGA found an answer to this problem.

In this exhaustive guide, our experts share everything you need to know about the origins of wrinkles and imperfections. They show the parallels between the techniques employed in aesthetic medicine, which is FILORGA's primary source of inspiration, and the treatments we can offer you to keep your skin looking young and flawless.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FACIAL WRINKLES 

HOW DO WRINKLES FORM 

The first fine lines and wrinkles start to appear around the age of 30. They are caused by repeated movements of facial muscles, which ultimately lead to the formation of persistent creases. This is because, while young skin would fully recover naturally after each muscular contraction, aging skin is unable to regain its initial state and instead appears wrinkled.

Here's a closer look at what happens within the three layers of the skin: 

- In the epidermis (the outermost layer), the renewal of skin tissue slows down. Keratinocytes, which account for around 80–90% of epidermal cells, renew at a reduced rate. Their purpose is to combine to form several layers, much like a brick wall, creating a physical barrier against external stresses. If this process slows down, the brick wall eventually cracks and crumbles. Meanwhile, used bricks pile up as they are poorly disposed of. As a result, our protective epidermis becomes thinner while a denser layer of dead cells also develops. 

- In the dermis (the middle layer), fibroblasts produce increasingly less hyaluronic acid, collagen, and elastin. These molecules also lose quality as they undergo glycation, a process which increases their inflexibility to the point of breaking them. The result is a disorganized, dehydrated dermis. It begins to sag, losing both its firmness and elasticity.

- In the hypodermis (the deepest layer), fat cells begin to atrophy, again causing the skin to sag.

- Blood circulation also slows down, meaning that nutrients and oxygen are no longer as effectively distributed to cells. Without nutrients and oxygen, our cells don't function as well.

All of these factors combine and interact with the repeated contraction of the facial muscles, causing the skin to sag, crack, and eventually form wrinkles.

DIFFERENT KINDS OF FACIAL WRINKLES 

On the face, there are:

EXPRESSION LINES 

There are five kinds of expression lines, also known as dynamic wrinkles, and each is linked to a particular facial muscle:

- Crow's feet appear at the outer corner of the eye and are associated with the orbicularis oculi muscle.

- Frown lines, situated between the eyebrows, are caused by the corrugator supercilii muscles of the eyebrows and the procerus muscle of the nose.

- Forehead wrinkles are horizontal wrinkles that occur due to the frontalis, or forehead, muscle.

- Upper lip wrinkles are tiny vertical wrinkles that are caused by the orbicularis oris muscle around the mouth.

- Marionette lines start at the corners of the mouth and extend down towards the chin. They are caused by the depressor anguli oris muscle, which depresses the corner of the mouth. 

OTHER WRINKLES, LIKE: 

- Upper eyelid wrinkles, characterized by a drooping eyelid.

- Under-eye wrinkles, which are chiefly caused by a loss of volume in the skin around the eyes.

- Nasolabial folds, which occur due to loose skin.

- Neck lines.

THE VARIOUS KINDS AND CAUSES OF SKIN IMPERFECTIONS 

In addition to the appearance of wrinkles, an increasing number of young adults are concerned about skin imperfections. It is now estimated that over half of all women aged between 20 and 40 have oily skin* and mild to severe acne. Studies have actually shown a 60% increase in acne over the last 10 years**. Acne in young adults is different from that seen in adolescence, as it occurs primarily in the U-zone (chin and jawline) rather than on the cheeks or forehead.

Several factors are implicated, including poor diet, stress, pollution, and hormonal fluctuations during menstruation. However, there are 3 very clear mechanisms that lead to skin imperfections:

- Increased sebum production. This is known as hyperseborrhea. Sebum production is essential for the skin to combat external stresses, but excessive production leads to shiny, oily skin.

- A buildup of cells in pores—hyperkeratosis. Dead skin cells clog pores, resulting in blackheads. Pores also become more apparent. 

- Bacterial overgrowth and inflammation. The excess sebum and dead cells mentioned above help create a perfect environment for the development of Cutibacterium acnes bacteria, which are found naturally in our skin microbiota. This proliferation of bacteria leads to inflammation. These bacteria use sebum as a source of energy and convert it into irritating fatty acids. Increased amounts of sebum lead to increased bacterial proliferation, which means an increased amount of irritants. This sets off an inflammatory response, resulting in the development of pimples.

WHAT TECHNIQUES ARE USED IN AESTHETIC MEDICINE TO ELIMINATE WRINKLES AND IMPERFECTIONS?

Since its founding in 1978, Laboratoires FILORGA has taken great inspiration from aesthetic medicine, a discipline that employs non-surgical medical techniques to improve the appearance of the face or body. Examples include facial filler injections, lip volume augmentation, hair transplants, etc. In contrast, procedures like facelifts or rhinoplasty qualify as cosmetic surgery.

Before getting into which products we recommend our customers use to simultaneously treat imperfections, wrinkles, and fine lines, let's look at the techniques used in aesthetic medicine to treat these issues.

INJECTABLE WRINKLE FILLERS 

There are 3 major injection techniques used to combat wrinkles:

- Hyaluronic acid injections are used as a means of comprehensively filling in wrinkles and plumping up the skin. This compound occurs naturally in the skin, and its main function is to hydrate the skin and fill spaces between cells. As skin ages, the quantity of hyaluronic acid it contains decreases, leading to dehydration, loss of elasticity, and the development of deep wrinkles. These injections involve injecting hyaluronic acid in gel form into wrinkles and creases on the face. Once in the skin, it helps support and fill out areas where wrinkles have formed.

- Botulinum toxin injections to smooth out expression lines. This technique involves injecting a toxin secreted by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. Doctors use low doses of this compound to paralyse facial muscles and temporarily attenuate expression lines.

- Collagen injections to restore skin firmness. Collagen is a protein that is naturally present in the dermis. Its chief function is to help support the skin's structure. Its production decreases with age, causing the skin to loosen and wrinkles to appear. Collagen injections help to fill in drooping areas and eliminate wrinkles. Tensor threads can also be used to complement these injections. A needle is used to insert mesh threads in a grid pattern under the skin. This stimulates collagen and acts like a mechanical tensor. The result is firmer skin without added volume. These threads are absorbed by the body.

CHEMICAL PEELS FOR IMPERFECTIONS 

Chemical peels are procedures that remove the superficial layers of the skin. They help remove dead skin cells through the use of acids like lactic acid, glycolic acid, azelaic acid, and salicylic acid.

Superficial chemical peels remove dead skin cells from the outermost layers of the epidermis. This type of peel also encourages the skin's natural cell renewal process. Results are immediately apparent after a superficial peel: the complexion is more radiant and consistent, the skin is smoother, with improved texture and less visible pores, fine lines are minimized, and imperfections are greatly reduced.

THE ACTIVE INGREDIENTS FAVORED BY DERMATOLOGISTS

Alongside injections and chemical peels, dermatologists also use: 

- Zinc, to combat imperfections by regulating excess sebum.

- Vitamin B3 (niacinamide), for its anti-inflammatory properties.

- Vitamin A (retinol) and its vitamers (retinoids)—these are also used to remove dead skin cells and smooth the skin.

- Benzoyl peroxide. This compound reduces sebum production and suppresses the virulence of C. acnes bacteria.

Lastly, there are also antibiotic creams available to combat inflammatory acne that are available on prescription.

THE AGE-PURIFY COLLECTION: LABORATOIRES FILORGA’S SOLUTION FOR WRINKLES AND IMPERFECTIONS  

Skin imperfections returning at a time when they seemed long gone can be a real nuisance. Acne not only affects skin quality, it also has a greatly overlooked psychological impact. Researchers have demonstrated that acne sufferers are more likely to develop anxiety, reduced self-confidence, and depression. When paired with the onset of the first signs of aging, it can be a very difficult thing to cope with. 

Targeting skin imperfections while also providing an effective treatment for fine lines and wrinkles appears fundamental to improving both the appearance of the skin as well as mental well-being.

FILORGA's solution to this problem is a dual correction range that targets both wrinkles and skin imperfections. Formulated in partnership with aesthetic doctors and dermatologists, the AGE-PURIFY Collection incorporates DUAL-CORRECTING FACTORS, an innovative compound that features two exclusive complexes:

HYALURO-YOUTH CX:

HYALURO-YOUTH COMPLEX contains 3 ingredients inspired by the injections used in aesthetic medicine:

- Encapsulated high molecular weight hyaluronic acid with potent plumping benefits.

- A smoothing peptide that mimics the effect of botulinum toxin injections in order to help relax muscles and prevent wrinkles from forming.

- A filling glycopeptide that stimulates collagen synthesis.

DERMO-RESCUE CX:

The DERMO-RESCUE COMPLEX contains active ingredients inspired by those used in dermatological treatments that target each phase in the formation of skin imperfections: 

- Sebum-regulating zinc to curb sebum production.

- 5 resurfacing acids inspired by peels. These eliminate dead cells, restore radiance to the complexion, close pores, improve skin texture, and smooth out imperfections.

- Achiote extract. Achiote is a plant native to tropical regions of Central and South America, and its extract affects the virulence of C. acnes bacteria, inhibiting their proliferation and reducing inflammation, thereby purifying and soothing the skin. 

This comprehensive range therefore provides a solution for the treatment of wrinkles and skin imperfections that is specifically designed for combination to oily skin.

Explore the AGE-PURIFY Collection

*International Dermal Institute 2019.

**Analysis of Korean acne patients according to age groups based on two multicenter studies. Journal of Dermatology 2017, 44(2):186-188.