IBR-Phyto(flu)ene colourless carotenoids for invisible colour balance

Fluorescence is the re-emission of light by a substance having previously absorbed it. The most striking examples of fluorescence occur when the absorbed radiation is in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum, and thus invisible to the human eye, and the emitted light is in the visible region. Phytoene and phytofluene are such substances - when illuminated by sun and UV light they fluoresce, emitting green light.

As applied in cosmetics, fluorescence can influence the colour appearance of the skin, as the greenish fluorescent emission from sun or UV-illuminated phytoene and phytofluene perform the function of colour opponency.

Skin colour (or the perception thereof) is the result of a combination of the three opponent colours red-green (a*), yellow-blue (b*) and white-black (L*). One end of a given colour channel can be used to cancel the opposite end (hue cancellation). Excessive redness (irritation and inflammation in the skin) as well as spots are targets of skin care and colour cosmetic products. The latter sometimes cover reddish skin with green pigments to oppose each other and reduce redness.

A variation of this effect is now suggested:
Combining the opponent colour theory with phytoene and phytofluene green fluorescence properties, we hypothesised that plant extracts rich in phytoene and phytofluene could be utilised as "invisible pigments" - being colourless and emitting greenish light while illuminated, and thus immediately cancelling some of the red hue in reddened skin and lightening the skin tone. We therefore carried out a study to evaluate the immediate effect of a gel containing 1.5% IBR-TCLC (tomato phytoene and phytofluene) vs. placebo on full-spectrum lit skin, with respect to reduction of redness and lightening the skin tone.

The study clearly indicates that under full spectrum light, the application of IBR-TCLC (tomato phytoene and phytofluene), vs. placebo, on the skin results in:
• Lighter skin colour
• Reduced redness, both in normal and red skin subjects

These immediately visible benefits of redness reduction and colour cancellation are only the beginning of multiple additional benefits derived from continuous use of products containing the colourless carotenoids phytoene and phytofluene.