The epidermis is the outermost layer of our skin and the thinnest of the three main skin layers. Responsible for protecting our bodies from the outside world, the epidermis is made up of 5 layers of its own, including the stratum corneum, which is sometimes called the skin barrier. This layer of the epidermis is made up of corneocytes, dead skin cells that protect the skin from environmental aggressors like UV light, pathogens, and pollutants. These dead skin cells are “glued” together by fats that keep water inside the skin and prevent dehydration.²

The skin around your eyes has a stratum corneum that is on average about 3 layers thick compared to 15+ layers on other areas.¹ When the stratum corneum is weaker, it experiences higher rates of transepidermal water loss and is more vulnerable to environmental aggressors that degrade skin firmness and resilience.¹ This may be the the reason that the skin under your eyes experiences more exaggerated signs of collagen and elastin loss–namely fine lines, sagging, and crepiness.³⁴

So how can you help support epidermal thickness in the super thin skin around your eyes? The answer is OS-01, our breakthrough peptide that’s been scientifically proven to increase epidermal thickness (shown in lab studies on ex vivo human skin models).

In a study, our scientists measured the epidermal thickness of ex vivo human skin samples from 35-year-old, 55-year-old, and 79-year-old donors before and after treatment with the OS-01 peptide. The results were astounding, with the epidermal thickness increasing by 16% in the 35-year-old skin samples, 28% in the 55-year-old skin samples, and 11% in the 79-year-old skin samples after exposure to the OS-01 peptide. These improvements included noticeable changes in the stratum corneum–the outermost dark purple layer in these histological images.⁵

Histology images of ex vivo human skin samples from 35, 55, and 79 year old donors exposed to the OS-01 peptide (12.5uM) (Zonari, et al).

Epidermal thickness analysis of ex vivo skin samples (35, 55 and 79yr) after 5 days of treatment with 12.5uM OS-01 peptide revealed a significant increase upon treatment (Zonari, et al).

Formulated with the highest concentration of our OS-01 peptide, our new OS-01 EYE was specifically designed to address the thin skin around the eyes. In studies, OS-01 EYE has been shown to support the production and retention of collagen around the eyes (shown in lab studies on ex vivo human eyelid skin)–counteracting one of the main effects of a weaker stratum corneum.

Our scientists exposed ex vivo human eyelid skin samples to either nothing (No Treatment) or OS-01 EYE, then performed an expression analysis to evaluate the effect of OS-01 EYE on markers associated with collagen production, COL1A1, and degradation, MMP1. Samples exposed to OS-01 EYE showed increased COL1A1 and decreased MMP1. This means that OS-01 EYE supports skin’s firmness around the eyes by both promoting collagen synthesis and preventing its degradation.

The results are the average of testing in 3 different ex vivo eyelid skin samples grown from 42y, 59y, and 84y donors.

• The delicate skin around the eyes has a stratum corneum that is up to 5x thinner than other areas of the face and body.
• The stratum corneum is a layer of the epidermis keeps water inside the skin, preventing dehydration.
• A weaker stratum corneum leaves the skin more vulnerable to environmental aggressors which may be a reason that the skin under your eyes experiences more exaggerated signs of collagen and elastin loss.
• The OS-01 peptide has been proven to improve epidermal thickness in ex vivo human skin samples.
• Our new OS-01 EYE Topical Supplement contains the highest concentration of the OS-01 peptide and has been shown to promote collagen biosynthesis and retention at the molecular level in lab studies on ex vivo eyelid skin.

References

1. https://link.springer.com/referencework/10.1007/978-3-662-47398-6
2. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21901-epidermis
3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2016.02.112
4. Vrcek, Ivan et al. “Infraorbital Dark Circles: A Review of the Pathogenesis, Evaluation and Treatment.” Journal of cutaneous and aesthetic surgery vol. 9,2 (2016): 65-72. doi:10.4103/0974-2077.184046
5. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.10.30.362822v2