Whilst a vital defence mechanism, excessive inflammation has been proven to cause premature ageing. Inflammation is characterised by a number of events including increased blood flow, migration of immune cells and the release of free radicals and damage to normal tissue.

Free radical generation is dramatically increased when our skin is exposed to environmental stressors (such as excessive sunlight, harsh weather conditions, air pollutants and cigarette smoke), emotional stress or when we don't get enough rest. The resulting inflammation and free radical skin cell damage generation contributes to the ageing process.

Damage to the skin can also trigger the release of collagen and elastin-digesting enzymes. Collagen and elastin are proteins which are responsible for skin strength and elasticity. They give skin its youthful supple and toned appearance and their degradation leads to loss of skin tone, skin sagging and wrinkles.

The rate at which we age depends on a number of factors including genetics, lifestyle, exposure to UV light and exposure to environmental stressors. However, first signs of ageing usually occur in our late 20s or early 30s, with fine lines, pigmentation, change in skin texture and loss of skin radiance. Aurelia Probiotic Skincare's Age Prevention range has been specifically designed to target these early skin changes.

Cytokines are a group of cell-signalling molecules that work within the skin's defence system. Cytokines stimulate or inhibit cellular activities and play a key role in the inflammatory process and the repair of damaged skin. For example, cytokine Interleukin 10 (IL10) would signal to white blood cells creating an immune response once inflammation is detected. This response is then regulated back and forth to stimulate or suppress the inflammatory response when required. It is important for these immune responses to be regulated ensuring the skin isn't in a persistent state of inflammation which causes premature ageing. Today's stressful lifestyles, alongside UV damage and external aggressors, facilitate this cycle of inflammation.

Free radicals can cause damage to healthy cells by a process known as oxidative damage. They are molecules that have lost an electron. This generally results in the molecule becoming less stable and more reactive as it seeks to restore balance by replace the missing electron. The free radicals achieve this by reacting with 'healthy' cell molecules and 'stealing' their electrons. This 're-balancing' process causes damage to healthy cell molecules proteins which can affect their function. This process starts a chain reaction: it can cause damage or cause the cell to die. Antioxidants help terminate these chain reactions.

An antioxidant is a molecule that inhibits the oxidation of other molecules. Antioxidants terminate these chain reactions by removing free radical intermediates and inhibit other oxidation reactions. They do this by being oxidized themselves, working to reduce free radicals. Aurelia Probiotic Skincare is abundant in natural antioxidants from the precious BioOrganic botanicals we use throughout our range that are ethically sourced from around the world.

To learn more about our BioOrganic botanicals, read the A-Z of ingredients and watch our botanical research film made in Malawi.

The ECM has many functions: it surrounds and supports cells, influences cell shape and movement and regulates cellular functions through signalling. It consists of fibres (e.g. collagen and elastin), proteoglycans and polysaccharides (e.g. hyaluronic acid) which provide a voluminous hydrated matrix and adhesive glycoproteins (e.g. fibronectin) which connect cells with fibres. It is essential for processes like growth and skin healing.

When the skin is under stress and when inflammation is present the ECM's function deteriorates.

Hyaluronic acid is a chief component of skin and in particular the Extracellular Matrix (ECM). Its presence enables the ECM to resist compression and it does this by absorbing significant amounts of water. This sits within a matrix in the ECM and keeps water within the skin and improves skin hydration. Hyaluronic acid is also involved in cellular repair and the regulation of inflammation. Aurelia's peptide complex dramatically increases hyaluronic acid synthesis within the skin.

Fibronectin binds extracellular matrix components such as collagen and fibrin together.

Collagen is a protein. Together with elastin, it is responsible for skin strength and elasticity. These proteins give skin its youthful, supple and toned appearance. However, both are susceptible to damage from inflammation and free radicals and when exposed can become less effective. For example, healthy collagen fibre molecules 'slide' over one another, which contributes to the soft, supple and resilient properties of younger skin. However, when damaged, the molecules 'cross link' and become stiff and inflexible which ages the skin dramatically. Damage caused by inflammation and free radical formation also triggers the release of collagen- and elastin-digesting enzymes and their degradation is a key factor in loss of skin tone, skin sagging and wrinkles.

Aurelia Probiotic Skincare's Age Prevention range contains a peptide complex which has been specifically designed to work on the fibroblasts within the dermis to protect against such skin damage and to help prevent wrinkles forming. Our complex works specifically to induce fibroblast synthesis, increasing collagen synthesis by 140%, the stimulation of hyaluronic acid tenfold and fibronectin synthesis by 220%.

Fibroblasts are the main cell type found in the dermis. They produce the Extracellular Matrix (ECM) and play a critical role in skin damage repair. They release synthesis to maintain the structure of the ECM. Aurelia Probiotic Skincare's Age Prevention range contains a peptide complex which has been specifically designed to work on the fibroblasts within the dermis to protect against such skin damage and help prevent wrinkles forming. Our complex works specifically to induce fibroblast synthesis increasing collagen synthesis by 140%, increasing the stimulation of hyaluronic acid tenfold and fibronectin synthesis by 220%.

Aurelia Probiotic technology has been developed by a leading biotech and uses immune modulatory glycoproteins from bifido bacteria to generate targeted responses in the skin, balancing stress-damaged skin and stabilising the skin's defence system ensuring the skin is optimally responsive.

How?   Cytokinesare the body's natural immune regulators, they are very important signalling molecules that communicate to our body to activate or suppress an inflammatory response. Aurelia Probiotic Skincare's probiotic technology and repair complex works in synergy by helping to control the level of inflammation within our skin. It protects the skin against excessive levels of IL-10 cytokines which are produced in response to stresses such as excessive exposure to UV light. IL-10 suppresses our skin's immune system and this includes the suppression of other cytokines, such as IL-12 which has been shown to be involved in the repair and control of UV-induced DNA damage.

By supporting the right balance of these cytokines (moderating), Aurelia promotes the natural repair process and helps to counteract the signs of premature ageing.

Aurelia's Repair complex has been specifically designed to support the skin's own protection and repair mechanisms and to counteract premature skin ageing. The skin's immune system is regulated by a vast array and complex balance of different kinds of molecules, proteins, peptides and cells, making sure that it can cope with the many negative influences it is exposed to, such as excessive sun exposure.

UV light can induce cellular DNA damage, causing an imbalance in cytokines involved in the skin's immune system and inhibiting repair of damaged DNA. The ability to induce DNA repair is a key quality in maintaining the viability, integrity and functionality of the cells of the skin. Maintaining the cytokine balance is therefore a pre-requisite for counteracting photo ageing and chronic photo damage.

The repair complex has been shown to rebalance the proportion of cytokine mediators in the skin, to stimulate DNA repair and counteract UV-induced photo ageing and chronic photo damage. It supports the skin's own protection and repair mechanisms and helps to counteract premature skin ageing.

Aurelia Probiotic Skincare's peptide complex works to prevent the visible signs of ageing by acting on cells called fibroblasts and has been shown to induce the synthesis of components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Fibroblasts work to ensure that the turnover of collagen (responsible for skin elasticity), hyaluronic acid (responsible for hydration) and fibronectin (responsible for skin support) work effectively so that they can defend against ageing and maintain the ECM. When we age or become affected by environmental aggressors, degradation synthesis leads to these support functions of the skin working less effectively, causing our skin to age. Our scientific studies prove an increase in fibronectin synthesis of 220%, collagen synthesis of 140% and a huge tenfold increase in hyaluronic acid. This results in firmer skin and improves elasticity. In addition, Aurelia's peptide complex has been shown to improve skin smoothness, reduce wrinkle depth and enhance the overall structure of the skin.

Yes. Scientific trials have been carried out for all Aurelia Probiotic Skincare technologies and the results are scientifically proven.

For Aurelia's probiotic technology, scientific trials looked at the levels of the immunosuppressive IL-10 cytokine, levels of cathepsins (enzymes that breakdown proteins such as collagen in the extracellular matrix) and lysosomal activity, which is a marker of how well the cell is nurtured. The trials found that Aurelia's probiotic technology decreased levels of IL-10 and enzyme activity and improved cell vitality.

These trials show how the skin can dramatically benefit from Aurelia Probiotic Skincare's technology thanks to the decrease in stress levels within the skin, overall protection against environmental aggressors, stabilisation of the skin's immune system and the counteraction of UV-induced degeneration of collagen and elastin.

For further information please see the scientific data section of the site

Yes - scientific trials have been carried out for all Aurelia's technologies and the results are scientifically proven.

Scientific trials demonstrated that Aurelia's repair complex protects against UV-induced immunosuppression and DNA damage. It also stimulates DNA repair following UV damage.

For further information please see the scientific data section of the site

Yes. Scientific trials have been carried out for all Aurelia Probiotic Skincare's technologies and the results are scientifically proven.

Scientific trials demonstrated that Aurelia's peptide complex stimulates fibroblasts to synthesis ECM, specifically collagen, by 120%, hyaluronic acid tenfold and fibronectin by 220%. Aurelia's peptide complex was shown to reduce visible signs of skin ageing and to improve skin smoothness, wrinkle depth, skin structure and thickness.

For further information please see the scientific data section of the site