Ingredients Continuation

OILS AND FREE FATTY ACIDS - when applied on skin, the omega fatty acids lead to visible rewards. These ingredients support the skin’s natural oil barrier (the sebum!), which is critical for keeping your skin hydrated and healthy looking.
The selection of the natural oils (jojoba, camelina, olive, safflower) was based on the careful consideration of it’s free fatty acid content, including polyunsaturated fatty acids, which mimics closely the natural healthy sebum lipid proportions of healthy skin. 

CEDAR LEAF OIL - Cedar oil, a local product from Quebec, from our neighbourhood trees, is one of our brand ingredients. Present in the BIOTIK ELEMENTS cream and PURE ARTIK cleanser. It has a warm, relaxing aroma that is soothing when applied...but also has antiseptic properties. This odorant oil has been used for centuries by aboriginal communities for skin irritations.

CERAMIDES  Ceramides are an important group of lipids that not only act as cell signaling molecules but also as emollients. Ceramides are also intrinsic skin constituents. These sphingolipids form a major part of the stratum corneum lipid matrix.  The ceramides used in our formulations are identical to those in natural skin, they strengthen the skin’s natural barrier function. This ingredient is proven to be highly effective for sensitive skin, AD (atopic dermatitis) and as anti-aging.

SUGARS, OLIGOSACCHARIDES AND ANTI-OXIDANTS - We made sure to include humectant sugars and antioxidants in our products to help fight the harmful effects of free radicals from the environment (and ROS). They delay the aging of the skin and protect it from external pollution, making your skin healthier.  Our anti-oxidants come from Canadian maple sap as well as extracts from the boreal forest trees that are considered waste from the industry.
Our carefully selected extracts include black spruce which protects the skin against UV-induced damage as well as supports the skin barrier functions. Oligosasachardies are also minor components of the humectant NMF and prebiotics feeding the microbiota.  Sugars such as those from the maple sap also have a dual role as humectant and microbe food.

HYALURONIC ACIDS - (HA and its sodium salt sodium hyaluronate) are natural polysaccharides composed of carbon chains of various lengths.  They are a natural protein-sugar component (glycosaminoglycan) of the human skin structure and provide strong hydrating benefits to the skin.
The polymer sugar chain acts as humectant and absorbs and retains water to keep the skin hydrated and plump.  HA and its salts are also postbiotics.
These ingredients are naturally found after skin's microbiome break down activities. Researchers believe that this synergy with skin is another reason application of hyaluronic acid leads to healthier, younger-looking skin.  In human skin, hyaluronic acids (HA)  come in different lengths so it is only natural that our formulations include as well, HA and salts of various lengths.  We use short, medium and long chain HA to make sure our skin remains moisturized with HA reaching multiple depths in the skin.

STRUCTURING PROTEINS, PEPTIDES AND AMINO ACIDS - Proteins are essential to all life. In the skin, some proteins act as catalysts in biochemical functions, others are responsible for giving structure to the skin (with the help of water) and organs and helps repair and produce cells. The building blocks of proteins are amino acids and peptides (small proteins).

In addition to giving your skin plump, and a healthy glow, amino acids and peptides nourish your skin microbiota (they are prebiotics!). Amino acids are the main components of the protective NMF barrier of the skin and contribute to the plumpness as they bridge the keratin fibers and bind water within the epidermis of the skin.  Plant extracts are rich in amino acids, polypeptides and cell membrane carbohydrates.

Selected extracts in the V*GAM biome line include algae, mugwort (a plant from the mountains), willowherb, watermelon, apple, lentil, Canadian maple, black spruce and rosemary extracts. Amino acids, salts, PCA, sodium and Zinc PCA are key components of the natural moisturizing factor of the skin, its natural protective barrier. These humectants are contained in the GO2 toner serum. PCA helps in protecting the skin. It also increases zinc bioavailability. As mentioned zinc is a key mineral of skin celular functions.