FutureDerm

A Fascinating New Concept: Masque*ology Collagen Hydro Gel Masque with 7-Dehydrocholesterol

Share Article

Masqueology We all know the #1 way to avoid more signs of aging is to stay out of the sun.  Yet, as those of us wanting to fight osteoporosis know, the #1 source of bone-strengthening vitamin D is produced after exposure to sunlight.  Most of those concerned resorted to taking a daily vitamin D supplement, still wearing sunscreen and practicing sun avoidance.

Yet, some clever skin care companies started asking:  What happens to your skin if you are vitamin D-deficient?  After all, most of us are not compliant with taking our vitamins, much less a vitamin D supplement, daily.  It turns out research shows you may be prone to more redness and inflammation in your skin.

Why redness and inflammation occur without vitamin D

Within the skin, vitamin D suppresses inflammatory allergic reactions by halting your skin’s production of an allergic antibody, IgE (Experimental Dermatology, 2004).   Vitamin D may also play a role in innate immunity, stimulating the production of antimicrobial peptides via a cell marker called CD14 (Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2007).

How Masque*ology Collagen Mask Can Help

How 7-dehydrocholesterol is converted to vitamin D3
How 7-dehydrocholesterol is converted to vitamin D3

Masque*ology Collagen Mask ($36.00, Amazon.com) contains a precursor to vitamin D, 7-dehydrocholesterol.

Your skin naturally contains its own supply of 7-dehydrocholesterol.  When you go in the sun, the UV light hits the 7-dehydrocholesterol within your skin.  In turn, 7-dehydrocholesterol photolyses (splits) into a compound called previtamin D3.  Your skin’s natural thermal energy changes previtamin D3 into vitamin D3, and voila!  You get the anti-inflammatory effects and other benefits of vitamin D3.

If you’re not going into the light, does extra 7-dehydrocholesterol help?

When you go into the sun less, your skin naturally produces less 7-dehydrocholesterol.  When you go into the sun more, your skin produces more 7-dehydrocholesterol.  So after you apply Masque*ology Collagen Mask, your skin has the vitamin D production potential that it would after regularly going out in the sun.

That said, if you are a monk or a modern-day caveman who is perpetually in the dakr and somehow has Wi-Fi, then no, the mask won’t help you.  (Sorry, Mr. GEICO).  You need to get some sunlight for extra 7-dehydrocholesterol to help.

However, even if you are the SPF 100 PA+++ type like moi, rest assured:  You still get some sunlight, most likely from fluorescent bulbs.  A study has shown workplace UV exposure from fluorescent lights is equivalent to just over a minute of exposure to the sun in Washington D.C. on a clear day in July (Psychological Health review, 2001).  The study examined subjects sitting indoors under fluorescent lights at typical office light levels on an eight hour workday.  Moreover, most of us get more UV exposure than we think on our way to work, walking to the car, sitting by windows, etc.

Very Hydrating

Masque*ology Collagen Mask is very hydrating due to the high concentration of collagen and sodium hyaluronate – both are found in the first five ingredients.  Note that collagen applied topically to the skin acts as a hydrator, not a filler, as only proteins around 5000 Daltons or less are absorbed into the skin, and collagen is around 10000 Daltons.  That said, it is a wonderful hydrator, and combined with sodium hyaluronate (which holds 10000 times its weight in water), you are looking at a superb hydrator!

Bottom Line

Masque*ology Collagen Mask is very hydrating, and provides a unique way to synthesize vitamin D3 if you tend to avoid the sun.  I recommend it most to those 40 and older who are age-conscious and religiously use sunscreen and practice sun avoidance.  I recommend it next to those of any age who have dry skin and use sunscreen/avoid the sun regularly.

If you are religious about taking vitamin D3 supplements, then perhaps Masque*ology Collagen Mask has nothing more to offer you than hydration.  However, it’s rather brilliant for those of us who tend to forget from time to time!

Product Rating:  10/10 (High or optimized concentration of proven ingredients:  3/3.  Unique formulation or new technology:  3/3.  Value for the money:  3/3.  Sunscreen: N/A).  

Ingredients

Water, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, 7-Dehydrocholesterol, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Euterpe oleracea fruit extract, Squalane, Caviar Extract, Human Oligopeptide-1, Centella Asiatica Extract, Pearl Powder, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract, Malpighia Emarginata (Acerola) Fruit Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Garcinia Mangostana Fruit Extract, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Salmon Egg Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Hydrolyzed Corallina Officinalis Extract, Bletilla Striata Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Collagen, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Allantoin, Adenosine, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Sea Water, Lecithin, Algae Extract, Enteromorpha Compressa Extract, Codium Tomentosum Extract, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract, Morus Alba Root Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract, Fragaria Vesca (Strawberry) Fruit Extract, Hizikia Fusiforme Extract, Sargassum Fulvellum Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan), Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Propylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Chloride, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba (Guar) Gum, Parfum, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol.

Other Posts on FutureDerm.com You Might Enjoy

You might also like

Product Review: Relastin Eye Silk

Accredited in [easyazon_link identifier=”0553383302″ locale=”US” tag=”cosmeticswiki-20″]The Skin Type Solution[/easyazon_link] by one of my idols, Dr. Leslie Baumann (director, Division of Cosmetic Dermatology and Assistant Professor of

About Myself

Nicki Zevola is the founder and editor-in-chief of FutureDerm.com. Named one of the top 30 beauty bloggers in the world by Konector.com since 2009, Nicki

#Mindey

@mindey