Sponsored by Lira Clinical
Formulated with high concentrations of aheadof- the-curve natural ingredients, one topical product line is helping to fight free radicals, inflammation and hyperpigmentation while simultaneously shielding skin from ultraviolet (UV) and visible light. By combining multiple forms of ingredients such as mastiha oil, botanicals and vitamin C, benefits for conditions from photoaging to melasma are maximized.
“Today’s consumers do not want products that do just one thing,” said Francine Kagarakis, RMA, co-founder, chief financial officer (CFO) and executive education supervisor at Lira Clinical (Dublin, Calif.). Therefore, to satisfy patients, she said, topical preparations must serve multiple functions simultaneously.
A prime example of this foregoing trend is MASQ-tech by Lira Clinical, a proprietary formulation containing mastiha oil. Derived from the protected Pistacia lentiscus shrub, chios mastiha resin provides antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibacterial and antifungal benefits, Ms. Kagarakis said. Lira uses the most fragrant, potent mastiha resin1, from the Greek island of Chios.
The Company’s product line incorporates four mastiha forms – extract, granules, freeze-dried and oil – plus selected stem cells, peptides and probiotics. Patients with hyperpigmentation should use a daily regimen that includes the following treatments, all of which include MASQ-tech:
PRO Brite-Plus Serum – Tranexamic acid (5%) and ferulic acid target melanogenesis, while stabilized vitamin C supports healthy barrier function. The Company recommends using this serum twice daily, immediately after cleansing.
MYSTIQ Infused C – Also for twice-daily use, this product contains 15% tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (THD)/BV-OSC, which tightens and brightens skin by boosting type 1 collagen production and inhibiting melanogenesis. THD’s lipid solubility boosts penetration, explained Ms. Kagarakis. Additionally, recent research reveals that THD reverses blue light damage.2 MYSTIQ Infused C also incorporates a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-free cannabidiol (CBD) isolate. “For CBD to be effective,” she said, “it needs the terpenes from the THD to help it communicate in the endocannabinoid system, which signals physiological responses against oxidation and inflammation.” Combining the CBD isolate with mastiha’s terpenes and d-limonene produces a synergy known as the entourage effect.3
SPF Solar Shield EliōDrops – For daily protection, this waterless sunscreen contains antioxidant- rich apricot seed and tea seed oils, plus 16% zinc oxide, all within a breathable hydrating polysilicone lattice. Because heating the skin via UV exposure, chemical peels, or laser procedures can stimulate melanin, Ms. Kagarakis said, this less-occlusive sunscreen lets the skin breathe, reducing the potential for post inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Used with professionally recommended hydrators, brighteners and repair agents, the topical regimen produces results in 2 to 16 weeks, she said. For maximum results, Ms. Kagarakis suggested combining topical treatment with three Pure Peels performed two weeks apart. “The products work well on their own, but they work even better when they are assisted with in-clinic peels, because the peels help jumpstart results.”
To manage melanin pre-peel, she recommended using PRO Brite-Plus for two to four weeks. Immediately post-peel, practitioners apply the topical regimen, which patients then resume at home. Using high-grade ingredients in potent concentratio
ns matters, because seeing rapid results fuels patient compliance, Ms. Kagarakis added. “They are not buffered-down products, so they are active.”
In addition, because patients with higher sensitivities to allergic reactions could experience allergic reactions, Ms. Kagarakis recommended performing test patches with each product first.
References:
1. Overview of the Major Scientific Publications on the Beneficial Activity of Chios Mastiha. (2021). THE CHIOS GUM MASTIC GROWERS ASSOCIATION.
2. Barnet. BV-OSC Technical Bulletin. August 2017. Dublin, California.
3. Russo EB. Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid- terpenoid entourage effects. Br J Pharmacol. 2011;163(7):1344-1364. doi:10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01238.x
