The way they look is more important to men today than ever before, and they are demanding products which are tailored to their specific needs. As a result the men’s care market has grown steadily over the past few years. Cognis’ subsidiary Laboratoires Sérobiologiques (LS) serves this market trend with Anasensyl LS 9322, a synergistic botanical complex. This new ingredient, which is suitable for different cosmetic applications such as shaving products, daily care and treatments for sensitive skin, decreases the skin’s sensitivity to the main daily stresses, preventing redness and stinging.

While the grooming industry always used to focus on female consumers, men are now getting in on the act too. They are increasingly concerned with their appearance, and as a result spend a lot of time and money on clothing and grooming products. This means that male grooming is becoming a segment with enormous commercial potential.

Men’s skin is naturally thicker and more resilient than female skin, but it is subjected to a high level of stress every day, due to exposure to UV radiation during outdoor activities, and above all to shaving. Dry, sensitive skin is a common complaint amongst men these days, and this problem is often exacerbated by the fact that they use care products which are not completely suited to male skin. LS is a leading producer of innovative active ingredients and concepts for the cosmetics industry, and with Anasensyl LS 9322 it enables cosmetics producers to benefit from the trend towards specifically male grooming products, and to open up new markets.

Anasensyl LS 9322 – scientifically proven to reduce redness after shaving
Anasensyl LS 9322 is a synergistic complex of synthetic and botanical substances, selected for their regulation activity on inflammatory mediators. Anasensyl LS 9322 contains caffeine, zinc gluconate, ammonium glycyrrhizate and horse chestnut extract.

The results of a clinical study carried out on 28 male volunteers demonstrate the benefits of Anasensyl LS 9322. Unlike traditional anti-inflammatory actives, it is “proactive” in increasing the skin’s tolerance. An after-shave balm containing one percent Anasensyl LS 9322 reduced the skin’s sensitivity to daily stresses, making it smoother, and reducing redness, the stinging sensation (by 45 percent) and erythema intensity (by 54 percent). Other in-vitro tests have shown that the product has an anti-inflammatory effect on human keratinocytes irradiated by UV-B, and the ability to protect against irritants commonly used as ingredients in cosmetic products.

Anasensyl LS 9322 can be used in care products such as creams, gels and lotions for use before and after shaving, daily care and sensitive skin ranges.

Comments Isabelle Benoit, Marketing Manager LS: “With our new Anasensyl active ingredient we are responding not only the growing male grooming trend, but also to end consumers’ preference for products that are both natural and highly efficacious, thereby giving our customers a competitive advantage.”

Overview: Anasensyl LS 9322

• INCI Name: Mannitol (and) Ammonium Glycyrrhizate (and) Caffeine (and) Zinc Gluconate (and) Aesculus Hippocastanum (horse chestnut) extract
• Concentration: 0.5 to 1.5 %
• Appearance: a white powder with a weak odor
• Solubility: Anasensyl LS 9322 is soluble in water, insoluble in oils and fats.

About Cognis:
Cognis is a worldwide supplier of innovative specialty chemicals and nutritional ingredients. It employs 8,500 people, and has production sites and service centers in almost 30 countries. The company has dedicated its activities to a high level of sustainability and delivers natural source raw materials and ingredients for food, nutrition and healthcare markets, and the cosmetics, detergents and cleaners industries. Additionally, Cognis provides solutions for a number of other industries, such as coatings and inks, lubricants, textiles and plastics, as well as agriculture and mining.

Cognis is owned by private equity funds advised by Permira, GS Capital Partners, and Schroder Ventures Life Sciences. In 2003, Cognis recorded sales of 2.95 billion euros and an operating profit before depreciation, amortization and exceptional items (EBITDA recurring) of 312 million euros.

Contact:
Isabelle Stussi, Communications Laboratoires Sérobiologiques
Division de Cognis France
Phone: +33-3-83299789
e-Mail: isabelle.stussi@cognis.com
Internet: www.laboratoires-serobiologiques.com

Wulf Klüppelholz, Corporate Communications Manager
Cognis Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG
Phone: +49-211-7940-6679
e-Mail: wulf.klueppelholz@cognis.com
Internet: www.cognis.com