We live in a world obsessed with perfection and many women are buying into this new, unrealistic ideal. But rather than alter how we look, shouldn’t we celebrate our individuality?
We live in a world obsessed with perfection and many women are buying into this new, unrealistic ideal. But rather than alter how we look, shouldn’t we celebrate our individuality?
When it comes to beauty, we’ve become accustomed to quick fixes in the form of fillers and cosmetic surgery. Instead of investing in quality products that work to enhance our natural beauty, we choose chemical peels and injections. Perhaps it’s time we look to science, and not surgery, to keep our youthful glow.
Time-release technology is one such science. Believed to boost a product’s efficacy and deliver better results, time-release skincare has become the latest beauty buzzword, but it’s actually been used in the cosmetic industry since the 1980s. As the name suggests these products release active ingredients slowly over a period of time, allowing them to penetrate deeper and work more effectively. You may have seen moisturisers and serums that promise hydration for 48 hours or claim noticeable results within a certain number of weeks. This is time-release technology at work.
“Time release has the same mentality as long-wear makeup, which has become very popular,” said Karen Grant, vice president and global beauty analyst of the NPD Marketing Group in Port Washington, New York, in an interview with The New York Times. “You want to know it’s working for you round the clock.” And the proof of its popularity is in the sales, which are booming. Savvy shoppers are cottoning on to the effectiveness of time-release technology, particularly in anti-ageing products, which is big business in the global market. According to research by Euromonitor, 68 per cent of people between the ages of 30 and 59 use anti-ageing products daily. And given that many of these ‘miracle’ creams come with a hefty price tag, it’s no wonder women are drawn to new science that promises more bang for their buck.
Where we once thought an impressive list of ingredients was enough to combat all of our skin concerns, advancements in the cosmetics industry are proving that it’s how these ingredients are packaged and delivered that’s most important. This is where time-release technology comes into play, allowing for more targeted beauty treatments. In layman terms, time-release technology is a type of delivery system where powerhouse ingredients are housed in carrier systems, which not only help them to retain their composition so that they can work harder but also ensure they reach the areas where they are most needed.
Thanks to the introduction of time- release technology in skincare, potent ingredients like retinol, a form of vitamin A credited with boosting collagen production for firmer, younger-looking skin, are able to penetrate the skin more effectively with fewer side effects. Whereas retinol usually breaks down in the presence of oxygen and light, and tends to dry out and irritate sensitive skin, when it’s packaged in these clever carrier systems, it is able to deliver on its promises of more plumped, youthful- looking skin.
Several beauty houses have started using this science in their product ranges. Neutrogena Ageless Essentials has been designed with the promise to control the release of retinol for maximum benefits, French beauty brand Décleor’s Aroma Pureté Shine Control Oxygenating Fluid claims to release zinc, a powerful ingredient in tackling oily skin concerns, over a five- hour period, and luxury cosmetics brand La Prairie’s Cellular Time Release Moisture Cream boasts a formula that delivers hydration over an extended period – perfect for those with dry skin. These are just a few jumping on the time-release bandwagon, with more to follow suit.
So why the interest? The beauty of time-release technology in skincare is not that it’s attempting to stop the ageing process altogether like Botox and other cosmetic procedures, but rather slow it down with more effective, targeted treatment, indicating a move by the beauty industry and buyers towards a more authentic aesthetic. Essentially, investing in science-led salves won’t turn back the clock, but will help you look your best, naturally.
So while we are very much living in a world of instant gratification where many women have their plastic surgeon on speed dial, there is something to be said for investing in products that really take their time. It requires more patience and you may not look as perfect as you would were you to go under the knife, but you’d at least still look like you.
