Reference Lab

April 13, 2022

Before we address the differences between OS-01 FACE and OS-01 BODY, let’s establish their core similarity - they both contain our proprietary peptide, OS-01, scientifically proven to deliver the following benefits:

• Aid in cellular damage repair.
• Increase epidermal thickness.
• Improve barrier function.
• Increase the activity of genes associated with collagen, hyaluronic acid, and elastin production.
• Decrease the activity of genes associated with inflammation and aging.
• Reverse the biological age of skin.

Now that we’ve confirmed that the star of the show, OS-01, is present in both products, let’s talk about how and why OS-01 FACE and OS-01 BODY were formulated differently.

If you’ve shopped the skin care aisle, you're already aware that topical skin products are typically developed for either the face or body, and rarely for both. And you may have learned the hard way that using topical products on the incorrect areas, especially using those designed for your body on your face, can lead to acne outbreaks, rashes, and damaged skin. That’s because body products and face products are typically formulated with different ingredients that suit each area of the skin and their different characteristics.

So what are the core differences between the skin on your face and body?

• Thickness

  The primary difference between the skin on your face and the skin on your body is thickness. Although the thickness of your body’s skin varies between regions, the skin on your face is distinctly thinner than anywhere else. [1] , [2]

  In addition, the fat layer that lies directly below skin is also thinner on your face. And thinnest of all is the delicate area around the eyes, making it especially sensitive to external factors, including harsh products, sunlight, tugging, pulling, and environmental toxins, which can injure the thin and vulnerable eye area.

  These areas of vulnerable and delicate skin are the most likely to wrinkle, sag, lose elasticity, and show visible signs of premature aging first. [2]

  In comparison, the skin on the body is noticeably thicker than on the face and a thicker fat layer exists below the skin, making body skin more resilient and durable than that on the face. Therefore, skin on the body is less susceptible to wrinkles and sagging and maintains its structural integrity better than facial skin as you age. [2]

• Skin Cell Turnover Rate

  Where it takes one week for cells to migrate to the top layer on facial skin, it takes skin cells on the body up to two weeks. Because it takes longer to replace old skin cells with new ones, body skin may appear flaky and dull as dead skin cells can linger on its surface. [1]

• Dryness

  Facial skin contains more sebaceous glands than body skin, which secretes sebum or oil. This sebum naturally moisturizes facial skin and makes it water resistant. Sebum also has antibacterial properties, which help to keep the facial skin’s natural microbial balance.

  On the other hand, body skin has less oil glands, leading to more dryness. Because it lacks the same moisture capability as facial skin, the skin on the body can easily become flaky, leathery, and brittle with age, often requiring heavier oils and moisturizing ingredients.

• Pores & Tendency to Clog

  The sebaceous glands in facial skin are typically connected to hair follicles, giving them the tendency to clog. Furthermore, the pores on the face are smaller than those on the body, giving facial skin a smoother appearance but making it more likely to trap dirt and oil, especially when exposed to more viscous skin care ingredients, like those found in body products. [3]

• Environmental Exposure

  Exposed to the elements almost 100% of the time, your face doesn’t receive the same protection as other areas of your body. Similarly, your neck, décolletage, and hands aren’t usually protected by physical barriers, such as clothing and hair, like the rest of your body. This means that the delicate skin on the face, neck, décolletage, and hands are most exposed to environmental stressors, including UV (sun) damage, dry air, cold and windy weather, and pollution, all of which damage skin’s health and accelerate skin aging.

  Furthermore, the skin on your face tends to have a higher degree of sensitivity than other parts of your body, making it potentially more vulnerable and reactive to environmental stressors. [4]

Because there are major differences between facial skin and body skin, we felt it was necessary to develop two OS-01 Topical Supplements: OS-01 FACE , designed for delicate areas of your skin most exposed to damage, including your face, hands, décolletage, and neck, and OS-01 BODY , designed for the rest of your body’s skin.

The formulations of OS-01 FACE and OS-01 BODY differ in two primary ways:

1. The concentration of the OS-01 peptide
2. The supporting ingredients

Concentration of the OS-01 peptide

Because facial skin is more susceptible to daily environmental damage, OS-01 FACE delivers a higher concentration of the OS-01 peptide, providing slightly stronger cellular repair capabilities. The body experiences much less exposure to damage on a daily basis, therefore OS-01 BODY requires less cellular repair capabilities and contains a lower concentration of the OS-01 peptide.

How did we ensure that OS-01 FACE and OS-01 BODY included optimal levels of the OS-01 peptide?

Rest assured, we ran extensive studies to determine the optimal concentration to include in both formulas, taking into account two main criteria: peptide penetration and cellular repair requirements

Peptide Penetration

Because the skin on the body tends to be thicker than the skin on the face, we analyzed which concentration of the OS-01 peptide would offer optimal penetration for the average epidermal thickness of skin on the body when developing the OS-01 BODY formulation, ensuring that enough peptide was included to offer the same remarkable effects that our customers have experienced from OS-01 FACE so far.

We did the same when developing the OS-01 FACE formulation, although penetration was easily achieved when developing OS-01 FACE given its higher concentration of the OS-01 peptide and thinner epidermal thickness.

Cellular Repair

We also calculated the concentration necessary to counteract the different levels of environmental damage (UV, pollution, etc.) experienced on facial skin and body skin, with facial skin experiencing higher levels of damage on average when compared to the rest of the skin on the body. Taking into account these two factors, we were able to determine precisely the right amount of the OS-01 peptide to include in OS-01 FACE and OS-01 BODY to ensure optimal efficacy.

Supporting ingredients

The second primary difference between OS-01 FACE and OS-01 BODY involves the different supporting ingredients contained in their formulas. As always, we included ethically sourced and scientifically-validated ingredients in both formulations, focusing on those that enhance the effects of the OS-01 peptide and suit the different characteristics of facial skin versus body skin.

OS-01 BODY Supporting Ingredients

OS-01 BODY was formulated with ingredients that suit the thicker skin of the body, with a focus on those that will deliver lasting hydration and healing/soothing capabilities.

Star Ingredients in OS-01 BODY

• Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Mushroom Extract.

  Contains a natural compound that is up to 400x more moisturizing than hyaluronic acid. In combination with betaine (derived from beets) and glycerin, this extract greatly enhances skin softness and moisture. Tremella extract also improves skin’s texture and elasticity. [4]

• Sulforaphane.

  A potent antioxidant phytonutrient with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. In a 2018 article published in the journal Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, sulforaphane was found to have anti-cancer effects, causing epigenetic alterations in cancers and slowing spread. [2]

• Genistein.

  A potent antioxidant which is anti-inflammatory and helps prevent and fade photoaging and dark spots. Additionally, genistein has been found to have cardioprotective and/or chemopreventive agents for the skin, which may also help to keep healthy skin from aging. [6]

• Ceramides.

  Supports skin’s natural lipid barrier to protect skin and aid in moisture retention, along with repairing dry and sensitive skin. Ceramides are essential in preventing water loss and keeping skin free from damage. [7]

• Saccharide Isomerate.

  A prebiotic shown to best support the healthy bacteria on the skin. Saccharide Isomerate also helps to improve skin barrier function and boost moisture levels. [8]

OS-01 FACE Supporting Ingredients

As potent and effective as OS-01 FACE is, its formulation was designed to be gentle on the delicate skin of the face, neck, and hands, with a mind towards sensitive and problematic skin. The supporting ingredients in OS-01 FACE were chosen for their additional damage repair capabilities, skin barrier enhancements, and hydration promotion, all while keeping the formula light and non-irritating.

Star Ingredients in OS-01 FACE

• Pracaxi Oil.

  Known for its moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties. Pracaxi Oil’s ability to help heal skin is evident in research. A study of 21 surgical patients published in the journal Dermatology and Therapy found that a treatment containing Pracaxi Oil alone resulted in considerable improvements in wound healing and scar treatment. [9]

• Andiroba Oil.

  Promotes collagen synthesis and boasts anti-inflammatory benefits. Through collagen synthesis, Andiroba Oil encourages cellular turnover and healing of damaged cells. [10]

• Niacinamide.

  Known for its moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. Niacinamide is a common ingredient in beauty products because it is highly effective, yet gentle on the skin. [11]

• Oleic Pau Mulato Extract.

  Long used as herbal medicine in the Amazon, Oleic Pau Mulato Extract heals skin abrasions and smooths wrinkles. According to a promising 2018 study published in the journal Molecules, this extract was found to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as the ability to extend longevity, strengthen stress resistance, and help modulate age-related markers. [12]

• Allantoin.

  Moisturizes and soothes irritated skin. Well-known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-itching abilities, Allantoin is a common ingredient in a variety of skin care products. [13]

• Hyaluronic Acid.

  Three sizes of Hyaluronic Acid serve to permeate each layer of the skin to stimulate and maintain collagen and elastin, aid in epidermal regeneration, stem cell maintenance, and moisture retention. Hyaluronic Acid’s power comes from its ability to attract and retain large amounts of water, keeping skin supple and moisturized. [14]

As we’ve alluded to, while OS-01 FACE was designed for facial skin (it’s in the name, after all!), it’s also beneficial for the skin on the neck, décolletage, and hands, which, like your face, remain exposed to the environment on a daily basis and lack the same durability and thickness as the skin on the body.

Specifically, OS-01 FACE benefits the skin of the face, neck, décolletage, and hands by:

• Supporting barrier function.
• Promoting collagen and elastin production, for stronger, firmer skin.
• Increasing skin tone and smoothness.

Although body skin is much more resilient than facial skin, it still experiences damage and deterioration, especially as we age. Maintaining skin health and a strong skin barrier should be a priority for your whole body.

Specifically, OS-01 BODY benefits the skin on the rest of your body by:

• Increasing epidermal thickness.
• Improving hydration.
• Soothing skin to reduce flakiness, irritation, and redness.

• OS-01 FACE:

  We recommend applying OS-01 FACE twice daily to the most delicate, damaged, or exposed areas of your skin, especially the face, hands, décolletage, and neck, directly after cleansing.

• OS-01 BODY:

  We recommend applying OS-01 BODY one to two times daily to the rest of your body, or specific areas where you would like to see benefits, ideally directly after showering.

References

• [1] https://www.ons.org/sites/default/files/publication_pdfs/1%20SS%20Skin%20Cancer_chapter%201.pdf
• [2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470464/
• [3] https://www.acne.org/what-is-the-difference-between-skin-on-the-face-and-skin-on-the-body.html
• [4] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31030755/
• [5] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29977456/
• [6] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/genistein [7] https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/ceramides-help-prevent-and-treat-dermatological-conditions
• [8] https://www.scitepress.org/Papers/2019/95162/95162.pdf [9] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13555-014-0065-y [10] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5796020/
• [11] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24993939/
• [12] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323434077_Calycophyllum_spruceanum_Benth_the_Amazonian_Tree_of_Youth_Prolongs_Longevity_and_Enhances_Stress_Resistance_in_Caenorhabditis_elegans
• [13] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/allantoin
• [14] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583886/