Oat Beta Glucans could have a role as a non-invasive alternative to Botox, the popular treatment to smooth out wrinkles by injecting botulinum into the muscle. It is believed that some parties already have research and development underway in this area.
In preliminary research, oat beta glucans are being studied for its potential immunomodulatory effects, anti-tumour properties, and stimulation of collagen deposition, tissue granulation, re-epithelization, and macrophage infiltration in the wound healing process.
1% indicates the amount of beta glucan in the product. The base is water.
INCI: Oat Beta Glucan Purity: 1% Glucans, .7% Preservative, 98.3% Water Physical Form: Light Brown Liquid Melting Point: N/A Applications: Topical Usage Rate: Up to 10% (start at a .5% or lower) Solubility: Water Shelf Life: 2 Years Other Ingredients by Concentration are: Preserved with 0.7% Preservative Blend (Phenoxethanol, Benzoic acid, Dehydroacetic acid, Ethylhexlglycerin)
Shelf Life and Storage Information for Products and Ingredients
Finished products generally don't need to be refrigerated as they are preserved, but you can refrigerate them to extend their shelf life. Shelf life for most products is 9 - 12 months. Vitamin C and VitaResurface products should always be refrigerated to extend their shelf life.
Sample sizes do have a shorter shelf life (generally 3-6 months) and items in jars can dry up quicker than this if the lid is not tightened well enough (except our Vitamin C Serums - use within 90 days).
Please keep your products out of high humidity, heat, direct light and keep in a dark cabinet when possible.
Exfoliating Acid products have a shelf life of 9 - 12 months. The only thing we don't suggest refrigerating are the Mandelic Serums or the Salicylic Acid Serums as those can crystallize in the refrigerator. If this happens you can set the product into a hot water bath to see if the crystals will dissolve.
Additional Items Requiring Refrigeration
Hydrosols - Remove 1 ounce of hydrosol and add into a separate, sterilized spray bottle and spritzer. Keep the larger bottle in the refrigerator. Carrier Oils - Generally you can refrigerate all carrier oils although some of the very rich oils will solidify. This is fine. All you have to do is take it out warm it up at room temp and it should liquefy. If not, setting the bottle in a hot water bath and occasionally shaking the bottle will hopefully turn to a liquid. ^There are some oils that have a super long shelf life like Coconut Cream and Jojoba Oil. Refrigeration is not necessary but it surely won't hurt. Essential Oils - Essential oils are best stored in a cool dark place. Co2 Extracts - These should always be refrigerated. Butters - We suggest refrigerating our "skincare' butters. You can take out what you need and keep the rest in the fridge. Clays - Keep in a dry, dark place. Shelf life is at least 2 years. Herbs - All herbs (whole or ground) should be kept in a dark, cool and dry location. Herbal (liquid) Extracts - These are created using alcohol. The alcohol pulls the constituents from each herb. Root, Trunk, Leaves, and Flowers. Extracts have a shelf life of 3-5 years. They can be kept in the refrigerator (or a dark DRY place) Other Various Raw Ingredients - i.e. Sodium PCA, Honeyquat, Oat Beta Glucan etc. will all have a different shelf life.
More than being useful solely in cosmetics settings, however, beta glucan gains practical, medical credibility from the (below) study, which supports its use to promote wound healing and reduce scarring after surgical procedures.
Notes from (1) of many studies
"The first part of the study, published in the latest issue of the International Journal of Cosmetic Science (vol. 27; issue 5; p 292), involved a single application of 5mg of 0.5 percent beta glucan per cm2 of abdominal skin. The beta-glucan contained a dye, so that its progress through the skin could be measured. The researchers found that it did, indeed penetrate the skin – a process described as being similar to the way water penetrates a brick wall.
“It does not go through the brick, it goes through the concrete binding the bricks together," he said. "As a result of our study, we now know that glucan works through the inter-cellular lipid matrix, or the cells' cement, to enter the lower levels of the skin.”
Next, a clinical study group of 27 subjects applied beta-glucan to fine lines and wrinkles on their faces over an eight-week period. Using digital image analysis of silicone replicas, they determined that there was a significant reduction of wrinkle depth and height, and that the skin was less rough.
Redmond said that consumers may expect to see results in as little as ten days. His conclusion is that there is evidence to support the use of oat beta-glucan in the “care and maintenance of healthy skin and the cosmetic treatment of the signs of aging”.
