ADVERTORIAL

Hey everyone!

It has been drilled into our heads since we were little children that preserved food is detrimental to our health. But do you know that preservatives are also existent in beauty products? Like food preservatives, they allow extend the shelf life of the products by allowing them to remain fresh during the long span between the time of manufacture and the time the customer finishes using it. Similarly, they are often unhealthy as they may pose long-term health risks. However, preservatives form an integral part of the cosmetics ingredients. Without them, you’d most likely be tossing out your barely-used lipstick and facial cream every other few weeks.

Furthermore, it’s perfectly legal to use these toxic materials despite the fact that they may cause adverse effects to the health. Therefore, don’t be alarmed to see them on the list of ingredients of your everyday beauty products. They are everywhere.

On the other hand, there are still cosmetics brands around that tout to be completely free of preservatives and specially formulated to be self-preserving. But the problem lies with the fact that they are often reusable. Reusable cosmetics products which are free of preservatives usually can’t withstand the test of time (hence the shorter expiry dates) because they get contaminated very easily with repeated contact with the skin. That’s why most of such products are sold in small packaging, but at premium prices. With that said, are you getting more bang for your bucks, or not?

But not all hope is lost! With the advancement of technology today, nothing is impossible. In the case of NEXGEN, instead of using preservatives, their products are packed separately before undergoing a sterilizing process, all while ensuring that the composition and functions of the products are not altered.

Established in 1999 in South Korea, NEXGEN is a biotechnology company specialising in second generation (hence the name) plant biotechnology which does not involve the use of herbicide, pesticides and genetically modified plants. Diversifying from the medical, agricultural and industrial business, NEXGEN started venturing into the cosmetics industry in 2011 under the subsidiary name of SKIN THE NEXT.

What sets SKIN THE NEXT/NEXGEN apart from other cosmetics brands is that it makes beauty products that are perfectly sterile and as mentioned earlier, preservative-free because of the individual and disposable packaging. On top of that, it also bans the use of plant extracts.

“Wait, aren’t plant extracts supposed to be good?”

Not many people know this (neither did I!) but besides the active ingredients in plants which are highly effective and pure with high biological value [1], they also contain synthetic substances which can be really harmful to humans. In order to extract the beneficial ingredients, companies have to pay a truckload of money and go through a dreadful process. Realistically speaking, not many commercial enterprises would do it.

Therefore, instead of using these unknown substances, SKIN THE NEXT incorporates Growth Factor Protein (a protein almost identical to human DNA and found in vegetables and fruits) into their products to help stimulate human tissues to repair themselves. Another active ingredient is the Cellular Vital Complex which contains 21 essential amino acids and 14 minerals in an optimum proportion to nourish your skin.

Here are 2 beauty products recently launched by SKIN THE NEXT/NEXGEN.

Biosteel Spider Silk Protein Die Hard Hydrating Serum

Die hard® is a moisturizing repair serum that doubles as a wrinkle treatment. It is composed with genetically engineered growth factor protein named Spider Silk Protein, which is 18 times stronger than steel that replaces collagen and elastin to improve skin elasticity and triggers cell  division.

As a moisturizing and anti-aging product, it contains vital complex (21 kinds of essential amino acids, and 11 kinds of minerals), sH-Oligopeptide-1 (EGF) 10ppm and Spider Silk Protein. There are 60 sachets in each box.

You just need one sachet for every application. Apply the serum evenly onto the face and smooth it gently until it is completely absorbed into the skin. I use this only at night before heading to bed because it does leave a mildly sticky residue on my skin. The amount of serum in the pouch may look insufficient but trust me, it’s more than enough to cover the entire face because it has a flowy consistency. It’s colourless and formulated without fragrance but it doesn’t have a pungent chemical smell.

Effectiveness-wise, my skin did feel a lot more moisturised, supple and revitalised the following day. Most importantly, it didn’t break my skin out one bit. In fact, I’m not sure if it’s pure coincidence but I noticed some of my acne scars lightened up a little. Nevertheless, the product worked well enough for me to continue using it.

I also love the travel-friendly size of the individual packaging and how two sachets are adhered together to save even more space. It will definitely come in handy for me when I go abroad at the end of the year!

Biosteel Spider Silk Protein Phantom Mask

Like the hydrating serum, one of the key ingredients of the Phantom Mask is spider silk protein. Phantom Mask is suitable for sensitive skin and it helps to replenish moisture and add glow to the skin. It is separated into 3 sections for the upper and lower half of the face as well as the neck area. There are 8 sheets in each box.

If you like truffle oil, you’d love this mask because it smells almost like it. But if you don’t, you’d probably find the smell unpleasant. It didn’t quite bother me because I fell asleep soon after I went to bed with it. This mask gave me a sense of luxury, the feeling I had when I was in the esthetician room a few weeks back. The moisture of the mask on my face coupled with the cool breeze from my air conditioner just spelled bliss. Plus, I had actually refrigerated my mask before application. It felt so, so good and relaxing! My worn out face looked evidently lifted, tighter and calmer (inflammation of pimples greatly reduced) when I peeled off the mask and I also realised my skin tone becoming a teeny weeny bit more even.

And the best part? The aftermath feeling wasn’t as tacky as I thought. Just smack on some sunblock and you’re ready to leave the house! (No I’m not kidding because I really did go to Orchard after one of the sessions).

The mask is made of great quality cotton sheet to prevent clumsy people like me from tearing it accidentally while trying to separate the sections. There would also be plenty of remaining essence left in the packaging which you can massage onto other areas of the neck, or wherever you deem fit. This is what I call “stretching your dollar” 😀

What do you think of these products? Would you be more wary when purchasing your beauty products now? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for reading!

NEXGEN BIOTECHNOLOGIES

NEXGEN: Website (English) | Website (Korean)
SKIN THE NEXT: Website (English) | Facebook | Twitter | Naver (Korean)
To order, please visit SKINTHENEXT.COM or email to lei@nexgenbiolab.com