Backed by Science, New Body Cream Redefines Expectations of Aesthetic Medical Professionals

CONTRIBUTORS (alphabetical):

Shino Bay Aguilera, DO (Fort Lauderdale, FL), Monica Bonakdar, MD (Newport Beach, CA), Angela Bowers, MD (Southlake, TX), Vivian Bucay, MD (San Antonio, TX), Anne Chapas, MD N(ew York, NY), Gregory Chernoff, MD (Indianapolis, IN), Suneel Chilukuri, MD (Houston, TX), Sue Ellen Cox, MD (Chapel Hill, NC), Natalie M. Curcio, MD (Nashville, TN), Diane Duncan, MD (Fort Collins, CO), Stephen Friedman, MD (Malibu, CA), Melda Isaac, MD (Washington, DC), Gregory Keller, MD (Santa Barbara, CA), Pamela Keller, RN (Santa Barbara, CA), Steven Swengel, MD (Los Gatos, CA), Amy Forman Taub, MD (Chicago, IL), Jessica Weiser, MD (New York, NY).

If you ever mused aloud, ‘I wish I could slather my entire body with DefenAge,’ then the new 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream answers your call. According to key opinion leaders in aesthetic medicine, the new 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream delivers much more than a product that simply feels soft to the touch.

“The future of Aesthetics is regenerative medicine, and this includes new advances in skincare products. DefenAge’s new body cream reprograms your dormant cells to create new skin cells from head to toe. My skin is now mainly comprised of young cells, and it shows,” commented dermatologist Shino Bay Aguilera, DO, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS REDEFINED

ESSENTIAL SKINCARE IN DERMATOLOGY PRACTICE

Medical Director of the largest Southlake, Texas, dermatology practice, Angela Bowers, MD, is one of the first physicians in the US to test the new 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream and is enthusiastic to start offering it to her patients as soon as the product becomes publicly available. 

“We consider DefenAge an essential skincare product. The new 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream is a wonderful addition that we will all be using. It has a great texture, is an excellent moisturizer, and improves the look of both the sun damage and aging part of our skin,” Dr. Bowers commented.

10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream

“DefenAge has been working on developing, improving, and refining defensin skincare technology over the last 7 years. I have had the pleasure of not only being a happy consumer of all their products, but also a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist who has seen the entire product line grow with impressive product after product with cutting-edge technologies that I have had the pleasure of sharing with many patients who have benefited from this exclusive skincare,” said dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon Natalie M. Curcio, MD, MPH, who practices in Nashville, Tennessee. “From the face to the eyes to the neck and décolleté, DefenAge has changed the way we view the possibilities for topical skincare, and similarly, the way in which we see ourselves every day in the mirror. The 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream is a demanded addition to the DefenAge skincare portfolio. The time has arrived to ‘turn the clock back’ with DefenAge on aging hand and body skin just as we have been doing already with other DefenAge products on our faces, eyes, and neck.”

Director of UnionDerm in New York City, dermatologist Anne Chapas, MD, explains: “My patients are looking for effective anti-aging solutions for the face and the body. With the new DefenAge body cream, they have an option that goes beyond typical moisturizers to improve the appearance of their skin and help to reverse the aging process.”

“any patient who uses DefenAge sees an improvement in the tone, quality, and clarity of their skin”

Aesthetic physician, Monica Bonakdar, MD, of Newport Beach, California, echoes the sentiment that the new body cream by DefenAge closes a gap in skincare.

“DefenAge’s Body Cream meets the long-awaited need for a body cream that is both an effective anti-aging product as well a luxurious, feel-good product. The addition of this cream to the curated products aesthetic practices carry inhouse is a must,” Dr. Bonakdar said.

DESIGNED FOR CREPEY SKIN

Since the initial launch of DefenAge in 2015, multiple reports from practicing aesthetic physicians have indicated defensin-containing products efficiently address crepey skin and improve visible skin firmness. Doctors report an initial improvement within a few days and long-lasting results after the completion of a 6-week regimen.

“After trying the 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream, my dry skin instantly looks and feels better; it is perfect for crepey skin, especially in a dry climate,” said plastic and reconstructive surgeon Diane Duncan, MD, of Fort Collins, Colorado. “There is a lack of effective treatment options for aging skin on the arms, legs, and torso. So, the introduction of a scientifically-backed, effective regenerative body cream is a welcome addition to the DefenAge range that I already recommend to my patients.”

Dermatologist Steven Swengel, MD, of Los Gatos, California, agreed that the 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream will be a great option for larger body areas, including crepey skin.

“So many patients are complaining about creping changes to their arms and legs, and while previously I suggested they use a pump of DefenAge 8-in-1 BioSerum mixed with their favorite body lotion, the new body cream will encourage the use of body-specific products instead of trying to fit facial products on body areas,” Dr. Swengel said.

“moisturizes, hydrates, and immediately, the skin feels firmer and plumper”

Dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon Suneel Chilukuri, MD, of Houston, Texas, concurs that having a science-backed topical to address crepey skin is a win for both patients and aesthetic doctors. He shared the results of an internal pilot study of the body cream in his clinic.

“Our patients have been waiting for a topical solution to address crepey skin that actually does more than a store-bought moisturizer,” Dr. Chilukuri said. “I finally have a scientifically proven option with DefenAge’s 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream. In our split inner arm and lower thigh testing, patients have seen a difference on the treated side within 2 weeks that continues to improve over the next 12 weeks.”

EFFECTIVE ON ELBOWS AND KNEES

Notorious trouble spots like elbows and knees have always been a focus of aesthetic practitioners. Now, the new body cream brings a target-specific product to improve the look, restore softness, and visibly revive the smooth texture of these challenging areas of the body.

“The defensin-based technology can actually reverse the appearance of aging skin, so much so that areas that might otherwise be covered, such as the upper arms, elbows, and knees, can now be exposed again,” Dr. Duncan commented.

Partner at Keller Plastic Surgery Pamela Keller, RN, of Santa Barbara, California, shares her experience with the 10 Luxe Hand &Body Cream: “Being almost 60, with gardening as a hobby, kneeling and using my gardening tools caused my knees and arms to become rough and almost ‘calloused.’ I saw a dramatic improvement in my crepey skin and roughness just a few days after I started using DefenAge’s new body cream. There is no doubt that I will recommend my patients to use the 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream on their elbows and knees, who are already asking how I got such an improvement.”

SAFE RETINOL ALTERNATIVE

Since the publication of a multi-center, double-blind clinical trial on defensins,¹ dermatologists widely recommend DefenAge to their patients as a safe retinol alternative delivering similar results without irritation, inflammation, or increased sun-sensitivity. 

Dermatologist Stephen Friedman, MD, of Malibu, California, conducted a dorsal arm bilateral comparison of the 10 Luxe Hand &Body Cream to an advanced retinol-containing body lotion, additionally supplemented with hydrating and barrier repair ingredients. Dr. Friedman concluded that DefenAge’s new body cream produced comparable clinical benefits to the retinol lotion.

“In the brief open clinical trial, there is no perceptible difference in the appearance of the right and left dorsal arms. The degree of hydration, texture, and color were identical,” Dr. Friedman said.

BIG FUTURE IN COMBINATION WITH BODY TREATMENTS

“The non-surgical body contouring industry is increasing significantly. I will recommend using the 10 Luxe Hand & Body Creamwith defensin technology to my patients to improve the quality of the skin long after we reduce the patient’s fat and tone their muscle. Defensins help us to ‘ice the cake’ on the patient’s overall quality of the result. It has been a welcome addition to my armamentarium of body treatments. It also fits into our new ‘biostimulatory’ story for skin improvement,” shared facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Gregory Chernoff, MD, of Indianapolis, Indiana. “I have been using defensin technology in my offices since the inception of DefenAge. My patients made me a believer, as without exception any patient who uses DefenAge sees an improvement in the tone, quality, and clarity of their skin.”

A long-time DefenAge enthusiast, Dr. Duncan published a study in Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America in 2018 examining the combination of DefenAge defensin serum and microneedling to enhance cosmetic outcomes on the face and body.² She reported: “Use of a defensin-based serum (DefenAge) after microneedling can create a remarkable improvement in skin quality” on the arm with a single treatment, including addressing visible signs of solar elastosis, wrinkling, and poor skin tone.” The improvement stays at least one month after treatment.²

“I plan to pair the 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream with BBL Hero (Sciton) treatments. The device by Sciton can reduce pigment, sun damage, crepiness, and mild skin laxity in a manner similar to using DefenAge post microneedling,” Dr. Duncan said. “The thermal effect of the device on skin will be amplified by the post-treatment application of the DefenAge body cream. I plan to instruct patients to use the 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream two to three times a day following four weekly treatments with the BBL.”

Dr. Chilukuri plans to use the new body cream to optimize the skin prior to light-based or radiofrequency treatment: “My patients will apply DefenAge for a minimum of two weeks to make sure the appropriate cellular mediators are in place to enhance short and long term results.”

Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Columbia University Jessica Weiser, MD, who practices at SoHo New York, commented: “The new DefenAge 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream is a very exciting addition to this incredibly luxurious and effective line of skincare products. Like the face and neck products, the body cream contains the coveted defensins in addition to a strong lineup of active ingredients to target stubborn crepey skin on the body, while enriching the skin barrier and providing excellent emollition.”

“When used alongside radiofrequency microneedling, such as Cutera Secret RF, which is one of my go-to procedures for firming and resurfacing of arms, legs, abdomen, and more, the DefenAge body cream ingredients add anti-aging benefits while simultaneously ameliorating the healing process. I cannot wait to offer this innovative product to my patients,” Dr. Weiser added.

ACTS FAST, PENETRATES WELL, HAS ELEGANT TEXTURE

Dermatologist Melda Isaac, MD, of Washington, DC, shared she is impressed with the immediate effects of the body cream: “I am thrilled to introduce the 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream to my patients. The feeling is elegant. The smell is pleasant and clean. It absorbs fairly quickly and is not at all sticky or tacky. It moisturizes, hydrates, and immediately, the skin feels firmer and plumper.”

“The texture is perfect, thick enough without feeling too heavy. Application is smooth without feeling greasy,” adds Dr. Duncan.

An enhanced consumer experience with the new 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream is also highlighted by a Principal Investigator of the fundamental clinical research on defensins, dermatologist Amy Forman Taub, MD, of Lincolnshire, Illinois: “I love it. It is rich, and penetrates well, and I love that the pump gives you a lot in one draw.”

“Most anti-aging body creams just make a simple lotion and add their hero ingredient. By creating a body cream with barrier repair and antiflammatory ingredients in addition to defensins, the 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream gives me confidence I am recommending the very best anti-aging body cream to my patients due to its robust multi-function,” says Dr. Taub.

THE SUCCESS IS IN THE SCIENCE

FOUR-PILLAR FORMULATION

Drawing from seven years of clinical data utilizing defensins in cutting-edge skin care, DefenAge has spent more than two years refining the final formulation of 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream. The strategy behind the formulation is based on 4 pillars addressing all key areas of the care of body skin:

• Pillar 1. Global anti-aging
• Pillar 2. Barrier repair and hydration
• Pillar 3. Anti-inflammation
• Pillar 4. DefenAge’s hero, proven, high-performing blend of ingredients

Today’s hand and body cream is a result of at least 6 product revisions based on doctor’s feedback.

As a clinical researcher and multi-year user of DefenAge, dermatologist Vivian Bucay, MD, of San Antonio, Texas, is keenly aware of defensin technology. She also reviewed the strategy behind the formulation of the 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream.

“As a dermatologist who strives to care for both the medical and cosmetic concerns of my patients, good skincare is not limited to the face and neck. It includes the entire body. An ingredient and evidence-based approach to skincare makes sense to me and allows me to explain the benefits of a particular product to my patients. Several years ago, I became a fan of DefenAge, an innovative skincare line that leverages defensins, molecules that have the ability to stimulate a subset of dormant stem cells to create a more youthful epidermis,” says Dr. Bucay.

She cites a multi-center, double-blinded, vehicle-controlled clinical trial published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology1illustrating histologic confirmation of the benefits of a 12-week, twice daily application of an alpha and beta defensin-containing facial barrier cream and serum.

“A few months ago, I had the opportunity to try DefenAge’s 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream, which feels very lightweight and absorbs quickly while still delivering long-lasting hydration. What really appeals to me are the 4 pillars that are the foundation of the formulation: anti-aging on a global scale provided by defensins; hydration and barrier repair by Ophiopogon japonicus root extract and Sinorhizobium meliloti ferment; soothing and calming by sea whip and panthenol; and a hero blend of ingredients that are compatible with defensins, including niacinamide (aka multitasking vitamin B3 that plays a key role in skin immunology, barrier function, and pigmentation, to name a few) and squalane,” Dr. Bucay said.

NOW, PROVEN DEFENSINS WORK FOR THE BODY

Facial plastic surgeon and Clinical Professor at UCLA Gregory Keller, MD, FACS, of Los Angeles, California is specific when he talks about why he thinks DefenAge’s new 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream will be a game-changer for his patients: “The unique feature of DefenAge is its famous and proven defensin molecules, which studies have shown have an ability to message a targeted regenerative response to the skin. The new body cream is the first-ever body skincare product that contains defensins.”

Investigators have examined the safety and efficacy of defensin-molecules and DefenAge’s formulas in 15 clinical studies, including the fundamental research published in 2018 in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.¹ The authors concluded that a defensin-containing cosmetic skincare regimen promotes a healthy new epidermis and “globally improves the visual appearance and structure of aging skin without irritation, dryness, or inflammation.”

ORCHESTRATING THE IDEAL COMBINATION OF INGREDIENTS PAIRED WITH DEFENSINS

Defensins are not the only reason doctors so enthusiastically embrace the 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream. The new body cream is supplemented with advanced high-performing skincare ingredients and additional technologies that are proven to work extremely well with defensin-molecules, amplifying the defensin’s effects. DefenAge calls it their “hero blend.”

Dermatologist Sue Ellen Cox, MD, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, comments: “The new DefenAge body cream addresses an unmet need in the beauty industry. It has the same evidence-based science as the legacy products. It takes advantage of anti-aging ingredients paired with the defensin-molecules to revive aging skin.”

One of the champions of DefenAge’s hero blend is niacinamide, which soothes and revives the skin’s natural moisture barrier, renews the feeling of skin firmness and elasticity, and brightens overall skin tone. DefenAge’s scientists say the success of niacinamide in DefenAge is due to an entirely different mechanism of action between niacinamide and defensins, meaning they complement each other, delivering multiplying results on the skin. DefenAge’s scientists have used a combination of niacinamide and defensins from the formula’s inception, starting with the 8-in-1 BioSerum and 24/7 Barrier Balance Cream, then in the 6-Week Perfection Neck Cream, and now in the 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream.

Squalane is another component of the hero blend, although relatively new for DefenAge. Squalane adds a direct hydration component to the skin and can be found in the 6-Week Perfection Neck Cream, and now in the 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream.

“I only recommend skincare products that are backed by science. All DefenAge products, including the new body cream, contain ingredients that are clinically proven to visibly rejuvenate, hydrate, and brighten skin,” added Dr. Isaac.

NOT A TYPICAL BODY CREAM

In addition to defensins and its hero blend, the DefenAge 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream is unique for two more reasons.

“First, it is the anti-inflammatory pillar. The body cream contains a top-level concentration range of an ingredient called sea whip, a powerful natural ingredient obtained from gorgonian coral grown in the Caribbean. It helps soothe skin redness and irritation, while softening skin,” Dr. Curcio said.

Sea whip’s benefits were proven as early as in as early as 1986 in the study, “The pseudopterosins: anti-inflammatory and analgesic natural products from the sea whip Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae,” published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.³

The enhanced soothing effect is reported by Dr. Keller (Figure 1).

Figure 1

“I’m a surgeon and wear sterile gloves for hours. My hands and fingers often become irritated. Use of the new 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream has relieved the irritation and left my hands soft and smooth,” Dr. Keller said.

According to DefenAge’s scientists, the final defining feature of the new formulation is that it boosts the skin’s barrier by enhancing the skin’s natural functions via an advanced hydration complex.

Ophiopogon japonicus root extract not only provides a barrier balancing effect, similar to ceramides by promoting the skin’s natural lipids, but also contributes to skin hydration by increasing levels of natural moisturizing factors (aka, NMFs).

Sinorhizobium meliloti ferment, stimulates the skin’s natural hyaluronic acid, laminin, and elastin.

“Overall, both ingredients balance the epidermal barrier, moisturize, smooth the skin’s texture, improve cosmetic elasticity, and minimize visible signs of premature aging,” Dr. Curcio comments.

“After reviewing the science,” she says, “it is easy to understand why DefenAge’s new hand and body cream feels great when applied to the skin, relieves dryness and itching (even in dry, sensitive skin like mine), and enables moisturization that lasts and lasts while contributing to anti-aging and improving the look and feel of the skin itself. It is with great enthusiasm that I welcome the 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream. For many of us… it has been a long-awaited arrival!”

REFERENCES

1. Taub A, Bucay V, Keller G, Williams J, Mehregan D. Multi-Center, Double-Blind, Vehicle-Controlled Clinical Trial of an Alpha and Beta Defensin-Containing Anti-Aging Skin Care Regimen With Clinical, Histopathologic, Immunohistochemical, Photographic, and Ultrasound Evaluation. J Drugs Dermatol. 2018 Apr 1;17(4):426-441. [FULL TEXT]
2. Duncan DI. Microneedling with Biologicals: Advantages and Limitations. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2018 Nov;26(4):447-454. [FULL TEXT]
3. Look SA, Fenical W, Jacobs RS, Clardy J. The pseudopterosins: anti-inflammatory and analgesic natural products from the sea whip Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1986 Sep;83(17):6238-40. [FULL TEXT]

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