We’re excited to introduce our latest addition to the Coast Southwest ingredients roster:  AstaDerm™, a truly breakout ingredient for enhanced skin protection.

What’s so exciting about it? How it’s derived, and what it can do for skincare protection (and product sales).

AstaDerm is a natural, multi-functional active ingredient that protects and improves the appearance of skin. A purified polysaccharide derived from the red microalgae, Porphyridium cruentum, it’s produced using a 100% natural process free of chemicals, additives, and solvents.

It’s this naturally derived process that makes AstaDerm a natural choice for inclusion in new or revamped anti-aging, sensitive skin, acne, anti-inflammation, and anti-irritation product formulations.

Even better? AstaDerm is a perfect fit for green, clean, and eco-friendly skincare products, one of the trends that continue to soar in popularity among consumers.

In the wild, the polysaccharide that surrounds red algae protects it from harsh tidal environmental stresses like oxidation, sun, and bacteria. Using our proprietary process, this protective polysaccharide is extracted and then purified to create AstaDerm.  By harnessing the protective power of this polysaccharide, AstaDerm similarly acts as a cellular shield, supplying the skin with protection against oxidative stress, inflammatory reactions, and irritants.

But AstaDerm doesn’t simply excel at protecting the skin. It’s also well-suited for incorporation into anti-aging products thanks to its remarkable hydration and moisturization capabilities.

Environmental stressors wreak havoc on skin, but most notably (and regrettably for consumers) factors like harsh sunlight and weather can also accelerate the aging process of the skin on the face and body.  Dry and dehydrated skin, increased visibility of wrinkles, sagging, and fine lines, an overall loss of elasticity…these are just a few of the unpleasant side effects of aging and weather-abused skin.

However, upon topical application, AstaDerm immediately reduces skin roughness and visibly reduces both the length and depth of fine lines. Even better? AstaDerm benefits both surface skin and deep skin layers, for truly effective anti-aging protection.

Additionally, AstaDerm protects aging skin by inhibiting the activity of three harmful skin degradation enzymes. Aging skin often unleashes a biochemical imbalance within, which leads to increased activity amongst collagenase, elastase, and hyaluronidase.  When these three enzymes accelerate their activity, the skin experiences quicker damage to the skin’s most vital components: collagen (the protein responsible for giving firmness), elastin (the protein that gives elasticity), and hyaluronic acid (glycosaminoglycan, which gives volume via water retention).

However, the Natural Sulfated Polysaccharides (NSPS) excreted by our friend Porphyridium have been shown to form a shield layer which protects the skin from external influences and significantly reduces the activity of the skin degradation enzymes. Bottom line? The purified polysaccharide comprising AstaDerm seriously protects aging and damaged skin.

It’s silly wordplay, but it’s seriously true: With the ability to both protect and hydrate the skin, AstaDerm is the perfect addition to creams, serums, lotions, gels, facial masks, facial cleansers, lip balms, sun care and hand creams that focus on anti-aging, shielding sensitive skin, battling acne, and delivering anti-inflammation and anti-irritation benefits.

It meets so many of the demands of modern-day skincare consumers, it’s a truly breakthrough addition to a formulator’s ingredients arsenal.