NEWS — OCTOBER 2007

Skin Care Products

Skin care is big business — thousands of different products are sold directly to consumers (in department stores, groceries, mass merchandising outlets, etc.) and through professional venues such as medical practices, salons, and spas. From 2006 to 2007, Feedback Research Services' survey findings revealed an increase in the number of medical offices and medical spas that sell skin care products. The following abstracts focus on new products.

Facial Skin Care Options

An article published by ThirdAge.com reviews cosmetic procedure statistics and evaluates four alternatives. The number of Americans who chose injectable and dermal filler cosmetic procedures in 2006 is impressive: 3.1 million were treated with BOTOX® and 1.5 million chose JUVÉDERM®, Restylane, or other fillers. Howard Murad, M.D., believes that the "prescription" for improving skin condition involves four components: Good nutrition, vitamin supplements, daily exercise, and stress reduction. Carole Maggio contends that her "Facercise" program tones facial muscles through exercise. Ancient practices are the basis for "cosmetic acupuncture", which involves insertion of fine needles into specific points on the skin. Combining spa techniques with technology, a supersonic facial delivers anti-aging compounds into the skin using electrical currents or ultrasound waves.

To read the full article ("Saving Face…Without Surgery), visit: ThirdAge.

In a separate news item from mid-October 2007, Dr. Howard Murad of Murad Inc. (El Segundo CA) introduced four new professional "skin immunity" products. With exclusive availability through licensed skin care professionals and medical practices, the Murad® Professional line features Immuno-Skin Complex™, "a breakthrough formula that works to target the skin's immune system" and enable the body to protect skin against aging. A proprietary bio-peptide is one of the active ingredients of Immuno-Skin Complex™.  The new Murad® Professional products include: Activating Cleansing Emulsion, Daily Moisture Charge™ SPF 30, Immuno-Skin Age Inhibitor™, and Nightly Hydro Lock™.

For more information, visit: Murad Professional.

New Natural Skin Care Products From Spa Sentiments

In mid-October 2007, Spa Sentiments introduced a new line of natural skin products specifically formulated for use with dry and sensitive skin. With pure ingredients instead of strong chemicals and additives, Spa Sentiments' product line cleans and moisturizes without disrupting the skin's natural properties. Ingredients include components such as essential oils, extracts, oat protein, organic goat's milk, vitamins, etc. Among the specific products are an alcohol-free skin toner, a face cream, a facial cleanser, a facial mask, and a facial steam tea.

For more information, visit: Spa Sentiments

Dr. Suwelack Skin & Health Care Seeks U.S. Approval For Wound Healing Dressing

With a strong presence in the cosmetics market, Dr. Suwelack Skin & Health Care AG (Billerbeck, Germany) is expanding its biotech manufacturing activities by building the largest pharmaceutical-standard production facility in the world. One dressing for chronic wounds, Puracol, is already commercially available in the United States, and a second product is under review by the U.S. Food And Drug Administration. In Europe, Dr. Suwelack introduced a collagen and elastic biomatrix, Matriderm, which is used to treat deep burn wounds.

The cosmetic segment accounts for approximately 80% of international sales. Companies incorporate Dr. Suwelack's products into face mask systems that are largely sold in the German, Hong Kong, and Japanese markets. The Company reported an increase of 3.4 million Euros this year, bringing year-to-date 2007 revenues to 17 million Euros. In the next three years, corporate executives hope to grow sales to 30 million Euros by "gaining synergies from the latest scientific research in the cosmetic fields" and applying them in product development. The press release was issued via PR News.

For more information about Dr. Suwelack Skin & Health Care, contact excognito.