Cold, dry winter air and indoor heating cause water loss from the skin, leading to dryness, irritation, and increased sensitivity. Usually, skin reacts by thickening its outer layer to retain moisture, but this can also lead to roughness and discomfort. Cold exposure also constricts blood vessels, reducing oxygen and contributing to conditions like eczema, dermatitis, and chilblains.
To combat these effects, consistent use of moisturizers and cold-focused skincare practices are key to maintaining a healthy skin barrier throughout the winter season.
The Himalayan plant Hippophae rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) has adapted to resist freezing conditions. The plant can
synthesize antifreeze proteins as an adaptation feature for ice recrystallization inhibition (Kashyap P. et al., 2020).
In particular, Hippophae rhamnoides produces chitinase, a protein that can act as a hydrolytic enzyme in defending the
plant against fungal attack but changing its secondary structure upon cold acclimation, it becomes an antifreeze protein
preventing ice crystals formation.
Hippophae rhamnoides, also known for the high antioxidant content, offers multiple skin benefits: rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid, it is an excellent ingredient for skin repair and regeneration. Additionally, it contains bioactive compounds like flavonoids and carotenoids, which further promote skin cell renewal and support overall skin health.
Hippophae rhamnoides extract uses its cold-resistant properties, rooted in chitinase activity, to strengthen the skin barrier and provide protection against harsh weather conditions.
It is rich in flavonoids, vitamins, and amino acids, thus conferring a robust antioxidant activity supporting skin nourishment, radiance, and elasticity.
Hippophae rhamnoides extract is obtained through a sustainable and innovative extraction process that utilizes ultrasounds and tangential flow filtration to eliminate waste substances such as fibers and debris giving a purer eluate.
Collectively, these features make CRYOCARE® the ideal ingredient for delivering protection, hydration, and repair even in cold environments.
Cell viability has been assessed on Keratinocyte cell line
exposed to hypothermic shock (two repeated exposures of
1 hour at -20°C) with or without CRYOCARE®.
C-: cells not treated or exposed to thermal shock
C+: cells exposed to thermal shock
0.15% CRYOCARE® significantly (p<0.05) increased the
survival of keratinocytes exposed to thermal shock up to
the triple.
C-: cells not treated or exposed to thermal shock
C+: cells exposed to thermal shock
Volunteers’ forearm has been treated with a base emulsion, with or without CRYOCARE®, and exposed to controlled cold and dry temperature and humidity conditions using the W&HS – weather & humidity simulator, a patented instrument.
Skin hydration has been evaluated after 1 hour: 5% CRYOCARE® determined a significant increase (***p<0,001) in skin hydration by 44,6% compared to the control area with an improvement greater (+100%) than the placebo product (*p<0,05).
This indicates the in-vivo thermal protective efficacy of CRYOCARE®.
Plant extraction
| Appearance | Clear Liquid |
| Colour | Light amber |
| Odour | Characteristic |
| pH | 4 – 6 |
| Dry residue (105°C) | >90% |
| Specific Gravity (25°C) | 1.2 – 1.3 |
Ideal for emulsions or transparent water-based formulations
