Great skin has very little to do with luck — the skin is a highly complex and reactive organ and how you treat and look after it makes a huge difference to how it behaves. When it comes to essential skincare solutions, it’s all about finding products that are gentle yet effective. 111SKIN’s latest launch the Exfoliating Enzyme Cleanser stars an incredible ingredient which delivers on both counts. It’s time you discovered the potent benefits of shikimic acid and how it can elevate your skincare routine. Read on for a deep dive into the science behind shikimic acid and its role in skincare, and find out exactly how this natural compound can help transform your complexion.
Understanding Shikimic Acid
Shikimic acid is a pure compound found in various plants, which gets its name from the Japanese shikimi flower (more commonly known as star anise) which is highly valued in traditional medicine and where this compound was first discovered. In the world of plants, shikimic acid plays a key role, working within their biochemical pathways to produce key elements like tyrosine, alkaloids, aromatic amino acids, and flavonoids.
What Can Shikimic Acid Do For Your Skin?
Shikimic acid belongs to a group of exfoliants known as Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) – these are chemical exfoliants that dissolve the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. Popular AHAs include glycolic acid and lactic acid, which often crop up in skincare formulas. Shikimic acid is the latest hero AHA to hit the spotlight, which offers a multifaceted approach to skincare, beyond merely helping to remove dead skin and debris. Below are a few of its key benefits:
Before & After using the Exfoliating Enzyme Cleanser
Tackles Pigmentation:
Shikimic acid works to inhibit the tyrosinase enzyme in the skin, which is responsible for pigmentation, such as sun spots and patches of discolouration. Shikimic acid stops too much pigment building up in one spot on the skin, preventing excessive melanin production.
Antioxidant Effects:
If premature ageing is a concern, shikimic acid can be a useful addition to your skincare toolkit. Its potent antioxidant properties shield the skin from harmful free radicals caused by sun and pollution, which can attack healthy tissue leading to wrinkles and fine lines. As mentioned, shikimic acid is a great exfoliant. By helping to sweep away dead skin cells, it helps make skin smoother and softer, while unclogging pores to reduce the likelihood of acne and blackheads.
Anti-inflammatory Benefits:
For those with skin that’s sensitive or inflamed, shikimic acid can soothe and calm any flare ups. Its anti-inflammatory properties reduce irritation and redness, to leave skin calmed and more comfortable.
Antimicrobial Properties:
Shikimic acid is famous for its ability to combat microbial growth on the skin's surface. By tackling blemish-causing bacteria, it helps keep skin clear and clean, making it a great choice if you’re prone to acne and breakouts.
Enhanced Absorption:
As well as being a potent ingredient in its own right, shikimic acid also helps to boost the efficacy of other skincare ingredients, by ensuring they penetrate deeply into the skin so they can work their magic.
The Science Behind Shikimic Acid
As a surgically-inspired brand created by a world-renowned plastic surgeon, every ingredient in the 111SKIN range is hand-picked for its scientific efficacy. And there’s plenty of scientific evidence to back up the beneficial effects of shikimic acid in skincare. In recent studies*, shikimic acid, when used at a concentration of 1%, demonstrated superior antioxidant properties compared to other potent skincare compounds such as triethyl citrate, piroctone olamine, and triclosan. After just fifteen minutes of being applied to the skin, shikimic acid showed a superior ability to fight free radicals. This indicates how this hero ingredient can offer rapid and powerful protection against oxidative stress, which is crucial for maintaining healthy and youthful-looking skin.
Introducing Our Exfoliating Enzyme Cleanser
Starring the transformative power of shikimic acid, our Exfoliating Enzyme Cleanser will take your skincare routine to the next level, inspired by the pioneering skin treatments performed in our clinics. Targeting issues like dullness and uneven skin tone and breakouts, it’s ideal for a variety of skin types, whether dry, oily or combination skin.
When it comes to an effective skincare regime, cleansing is a step you can’t afford to skip. Given the amount of pollution, dirt and excess oil that accumulates on our skin throughout the day, together with pore-clogging makeup, it’s important to wash everything off come the evening. Sweat, oil and dead skin can build up on our skin during the night, so cleansing in the morning is essential too.
By incorporating shikimic acid into our formulation, our Exfoliating Enzyme Cleanser doesn’t just cleanse and exfoliate in one product, but delivers a holistic skincare experience that tackles multiple concerns, from exfoliation to hydration. All the while being as effective yet gentle as possible.
Exfoliators are like a more extreme version of cleansing. The aim is to get rid of dead skin cells and any lingering debris, so skin is softer, less flaky and congested (and hence less prone to dryness and spots). Exfoliating also mildly irritates the skin’s surface, which triggers the lower layers of skin to speed up cell turnover, helping to diminish pigmentation and acne scars and promote a youthful glow.
It’s like a mini workout for your complexion, leaving it smooth, radiant, and even. The formula starts as a fine powder and then transforms into a luxurious lather on contact with water. Powered by papain enzymes, shikimic acid, and our special NAC Y²™ complex, it works hard to dissolve dead skin cells and gunk, while leaving skin refreshed and replenished.
It’s like a mini workout for your complexion, leaving it smooth, radiant, and even. The formula starts as a fine powder and then transforms into a luxurious lather on contact with water. Powered by papain enzymes, shikimic acid, and our special NAC Y²™ complex, it works hard to dissolve dead skin cells and gunk, while leaving skin refreshed and replenished.
We’re not the only ones who think so – after four weeks of using it, 100% of testers agreed that their skin looked and felt softer, while 96% agreed their skin looked more radiant and even.
So if it’s a radiant, glowing complexion you’re after, then our Exfoliating Enzyme Cleanser – infused with all the benefits of shikimic acid – is about to become your skin’s new best friend.
