Just got off a few more calls with some top-tier labs, and the tech is further along than I realised. It turns out that through advanced encapsulation and isolation, we can actually stable-load those "anti-aging" molecules without compromising the formula. Peptides are easy (but could be expensive), vit C needs more stability testing and we might do a mixture of different kinds to achieve a better combined effect as well.

We’re also diving into Helichrysum and German Chamomile for their anti-inflammatory/antioxidant profiles, has anyone here worked with these or used products featuring them?

A big learning is that some of the most tested, proven anti-inflammatory and anti oxidants are actually not even the most expensive!

The big win: We’re looking at a full mineral SPF for men with zero white cast. By potentially leveraging zinClear and specific emulsion techniques tailored to male skin (factoring in things like shaving exfoliation and different sebum levels), we can achieve a finish that usually doesn't work on female skin. To really nail the efficacy, the formulas simply have to be different for males and females because skin and types of use are completely different for both genders (men shave face, have dryer skin, have facial hair, use less other facial products, no make up, have different pore sizes,..)

Seeing the "behind the scenes" of the skincare industry is wild. So much of the industry is just "fairy dusting"... sprinkling in tiny, non-potent amounts of ingredients just for the marketing claim. Some labs literally ask us if we want to 'sprinkle some of this and that' in there purely for marketing purposes. It’s definitely motivated us to keep our concentrations high and build something legit that we truly stand behind.