France-based Laboratoire PYC specialises in the development of beauty drinks that are marketed in stick-packs, and targets its products at females looking to enhance skin appearance.
The study included 26 female volunteers between the ages of 26 and 50 years old, of which there was a mix of both Asian and Caucasians, who were invited to test the product, which is an apple-flavoured drink made of Pycnogenol French pine bark extract, pomegranate extract and vitamins.
Clinical study took in 26 volunteers over two months
The women took two sticks a day as instant drinks, over a period of two months, with the women’s skin being assessed for general appearance before, during and after the study period.
In Caucasian women the study findings relied on a sensorial evaluation using a trained jury that found skin radiance and luminosity improved by 16 per cent after 28 days and 23 per cent after 56 days.
While with respect to Asian women, it showed a visible ‘and significant’ lightening effect in 78 percent of the volunteers, demonstrated by a spectrocolorimeter, while an anti-blotch effect was noted after 28 days.
61 per cent of subjects reported a more radiant complexion
Likewise, across all subjects, 61 per cent of the volunteers evaluated their skin to be more uniform in appearance, which the same percentage also said that their complexion was more radiant.
Further to the initial findings of the study, the company says that other positive effects to the skin texture were also reported, with 94 per cent of Caucasian women reporting a more ‘velvety’ aspect to the skin, while Asian volunteers reported less greasy skin.
The skin lightening trend has taken off worldwide, but the company is particularly targeting the new Pearl My Skin in the Asia Pacific region, tying in with the fact that it will be platforming the product, alongside the company’s four other nutricosmetic product lines at the Cosmoprof Asia fair, to be held in Hong Kong in November.