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Biomimetics
The fourth pillar of TetCode4 is made up of substances belonging to the group of biomimetics. The word "biomimetic" is composed of the root words "bios" (life) and "mimetic" (imitator).
Biomimetics are substances that imitate phenomena from biology or living nature. While many achievements in architecture and structural engineering have long been based on observations from nature (e.g., how does a snail build its shell or how does a spider build its web), observations from the world of biology soon led to new ideas and applications in medicine and cosmetics. Achievements from biology or living nature can also be harnessed for our bodies, for example, for our skin. What has evolved over millions of years and been repeatedly modified under intense selective pressure (survival of the fittest) can certainly also be beneficial for humans.
The best example of the use of a biomimetic is the discovery and development of penicillin by Alexander Fleming. Upon returning to his laboratory from a summer vacation in September 1928, Fleming discovered that a previously uncleaned plate on which a bacterium had been grown was overgrown by mold. The unusual thing was that the mold had destroyed the bacterium. The scientific analysis of this process led to the discovery of the antibiotic penicillin, which saved the lives of countless injured people.
In a more modest context, the observed natural phenomena can also be used for the skin, particularly for barrier strengthening, hydration, sun protection, and the strengthening of skin structures and functions. The skin's microbiome, which functions on the skin's surface with a fascinating mix of health-promoting bacteria, can also be specifically strengthened through biomimetics.
Examples of biomimetics that have found their way into TetCode4 include hyaluronic acid, ceramides, squalane, ectoine, heather extracts, and rye extracts. Even the plant oils, which are considered the third pillar of TetCode4, also have effects that fall within the group of biomimetics.
The use of biomimetics allows us to participate in nature's achievements. Combining these achievements with data from skin research creates a bridge between nature and science—Bridging Nature and Science—and is the cornerstone of TetCode4.
Heather (Calluna vulgaris) is a low-nutrient plant, meaning it grows only on poor sandy soils, and best in light-filled, sunny locations. Here, it fully demonstrates its superiority over heavy-nutrient plants, which require very good soils. Heather is an ancient medicinal plant that has been neglected for decades. Since heather prefers large open spaces where it is highly exposed to the sun, it needs to protect itself from the sun. Heather therefore contains many bioactive ingredients that exhibit antioxidant properties and thus have a protective effect.
Ectoins are small water reservoirs found in bacteria in an Egyptian salt lake. These bacteria were able to survive for long periods despite the lake's drying out. This phenomenon is so unusual that it was investigated further. Ectoins were identified as small water reservoirs. They are therefore extremolytes, substances that ensure the survival of bacteria even under extreme conditions. Since the skin also needs to retain water, it made sense to use ectoines as classic biomimetics in skincare products whose primary goal is to provide skin with moisture.
Ceramides are among the most important fats (lipids) in the stratum corneum of our epidermis, which is found in all regions of our body. They also represent the majority of epidermal lipids, accounting for 40%. Together with the aqueous components, they form a so-called hydrolipid emulsion. This creates a protective layer that maintains health. Ceramides can also bind water, which explains why skin that is low in fat is usually dry, while skin that is high in fat is usually moist.
Rye (Secale cereale) is also a low-nutrient plant and, like heather, thrives best on poor sandy soils. Rye is extremely undemanding and can cope with the most adverse weather conditions, whether it rains for extended periods or is very dry for extended periods. The fascinating thing about rye is that, despite growing on poor soils, it is very productive. Rye contains many amino acids, vitamins, and trace elements. Decades of skin studies have shown that rye has clarifying, cleansing, and abrasive effects; in other words, rye exfoliates the upper layers of dead skin, like a small biological-enzymatic peel. Also interesting in this context is that the ingredients in rye also appear to support the skin's complex microbiome.
Squalane is a high-quality vegetable oil derived from olives, for example. It has excellent nourishing properties, smooths the skin through a homogeneous bond with the skin's own lipids, leads to a supple skin texture, and is easily incorporated into skincare formulations.
Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is abundant in our bodies. Hyaluronic acid is produced by connective tissue cells, fills the vitreous humor of the eye, is found in synovial fluids, and is an essential component of the sclera. Due to its incredible ability to bind more than a thousand times its own weight in water, a kind of swelling and pressure buildup occurs wherever hyaluronic acid is present. This creates tissue tension, and the increased tissue pressure causes fine wrinkles to disappear. Even though hyaluronic acid is only a short-distance runner in skincare because its effects wear off relatively quickly after application, hyaluronic acid is an essential part of a good skincare repertoireR
