Aquaphyline, the natural ingredient your skin needs for intense, long-lasting hydration
The skin performs numerous functions for the body. In addition to being the main protective barrier against environmental factors—among other things reducing the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation—the skin helps regulate body temperature and prevents moisture loss.
Even at its thickest point, the skin is only a few millimeters thick. Nevertheless, it is the heaviest and largest organ of the human body, accounting for about 15% of an adult’s body weight. This highlights how important the skin is for the body and a person’s metabolism.
As a result, proper skin care is essential, and hydration plays a key role in this process.
For the skin to retain its elasticity and maintain a healthy appearance for as long as possible, it must be well hydrated, both from within and from the outside.
Contents
- Why does the skin need constant hydration?
- Aquaphyline, a next-generation hydrating ingredient
- How to keep your skin hydrated
- Why does the skin need constant hydration?
Skin hydration means increasing its water content. When the skin is dehydrated, it can become dry, flaky, and dull.
The outer layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, is made up of dead cells called corneocytes. Between these corneocytes there is a complex mixture of lipids and proteins. These intercellular lipids are broken down by enzymes in keratinocytes (which make up about 95% of epidermal cells) to produce a lipid mixture of ceramides (phospholipids), fatty acids, and cholesterol. These molecules fuse with one another and with corneocytes to form the skin’s lipid barrier. This cellular wall helps keep moisture inside the cells and prevents allergens and irritants from penetrating. Problems arise when this moisture-locking system no longer functions optimally.
Factors that can damage the skin’s natural barrier and affect the hydration process include:
- extreme temperatures;
- an unhealthy lifestyle;
- excessive exfoliation;
- the use of skincare products containing irritating ingredients that impair the skin’s ability to retain moisture;
- low indoor humidity caused by household appliances such as air conditioners.
The first step toward hydrating the skin is hydrating the entire body. For best results, it is recommended to drink at least two liters of water per day and include hydrating foods—such as fruits and vegetables—in your daily diet. In addition to hydrating the skin, fruits and vegetables offer many other benefits for the epidermis. For example, citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C, which is vital for maintaining youthful skin texture.
However, effective skin hydration also requires certain ingredients that can lock water inside the skin and repair its barrier function. This prevents moisture loss and improves skin texture.
Therefore, cosmetic products containing moisturizing agents should be an essential part of the daily skincare routine.
Aquaphyline, a next-generation hydrating ingredient
Aquaphyline is a natural ingredient extracted from wild pansy (Viola tricolor), a plant well known for its benefits for skin health.
The extract obtained from the whole plant and flowers has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Compounds such as flavonoids, carotenoids, and anthocyanins act as antioxidants, protecting the skin against the damaging effects of free radicals from the environment.
Because environmental factors can alter the structure and function of skin proteins such as collagen and elastin, the skin can become damaged, leading to fine lines, wrinkles, and pigmentation spots.
Viola tricolor extract has a soothing effect on the skin and is used to treat various skin conditions, such as eczema and acne.
Aquaphyline is a hydration inducer with a powerful moisturizing effect through two mechanisms:
- stimulation of aquaporin synthesis (increasing the number of water channels in cell membranes);
- increasing the amount of hyaluronic acid, a polysaccharide naturally found in the body that helps synthesize collagen and retain large amounts of water.
As a result, the skin is hydrated from the inside out by drawing water from the dermis to the epidermis, leading to improved and continuous water flow within the skin.
The discovery of aquaporins in 2003 was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Two American researchers, Peter Agre and Roderick MacKinnon, identified these cellular structures—water channels called aquaporins—in all organs. Those found in the skin are known as AQP3. This discovery made it possible to identify natural ingredients such as Aquaphyline that increase aquaporin synthesis and water flow between cellular layers, allowing the skin to hydrate from within.
Interestingly and proudly, the first person to discover these aquaporins was Professor Dr. Gheorghe Benga from Cluj, a molecular biology professor as early as the 1970s. Unfortunately, due to lack of funding and insufficient encouragement for research during the communist era, he had to stop too early, after his first publications, without continuing his studies, thus missing the opportunity for the major prize. The two American researchers nevertheless cite Professor Benga in all their studies.
Ivatherm’s Aquafil range, which contains the innovative Aquaphyline ingredient, supports intense and long-lasting skin hydration by sealing water inside the cells:
- Aquafil Hydra Light Hydrating Cream gives sensitive normal to combination skin a smooth, radiant appearance through intense, long-lasting hydration by improving water reserves and circulation within cells.
- Aquafil Hydra Rich Hydrating Cream restores comfort to sensitive, dehydrated, and dry skin through intense, long-lasting hydration.
- Aquafil Hydra Hydrating Serum penetrates the skin quickly, providing immediate and long-lasting hydration to deeper skin layers, with a formula twice as concentrated in next-generation moisturizing ingredients (Aquaphyline) and enriched with peptides and hyaluronic acid.
- Aquafil Hydra Complex Gel-Cream Eyes Contour cares for the delicate eye area thanks to a powerful combination of active ingredients with a triple effect: hydrating, anti-dark circles, and anti-puffiness.
How to keep your skin hydrated?
To limit transepidermal water loss and maintain constant hydration—so that the skin preserves a youthful appearance for as long as possible—it is necessary to adopt a few healthy habits in your daily routine:
- limit showers to 5–10 minutes and use lukewarm water;
- use gentle cosmetic and care products (soaps, shower gels, face masks), as well as laundry detergents free from harsh chemicals;
- use a humidifier during winter;
- avoid excessive sun exposure and use sunscreens;
- drink at least two liters of fluids every day;
- consume fruits and vegetables daily;
- limit coffee and alcohol intake;
- use moisturizing cosmetic products;
- reduce stress levels;
- establish a rest routine that includes 7–9 hours of sleep every night.
Radiant, firm skin is an indicator of overall body health. When the cellular barrier—made up of cholesterol, fatty acids, and ceramides—functions optimally, the skin remains hydrated, soft, and luminous. When this cellular wall is compromised and the skin cannot retain moisture, problems arise: dryness, wrinkles, fine lines, and pigmentation spots appear. Therefore, hydration is essential for maintaining skin health, especially since it can prevent or limit the risk of developing symptoms of certain skin conditions, such as eczema.
