Perfectil UK's No.1 Beauty Supplement (20 Micronutrients Including Biotin, Selenium & Zinc)

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Supports keratin production for stronger hair and nails.

Why It's Used: Hair and nail keratin infrastructure support; widely marketed despite evidence being primarily oral supplementation-based.

How It Works: Coenzyme for carboxylase enzymes essential for fatty acid synthesis and amino acid metabolism relevant to hair follicle function.

Typically Found In: Hair growth shampoos,nail treatments,multivitamin products

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Active ingredient – vitamin b7

Secondary Functions: Hair growth support,nail strengthening

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 0.01%–0.5%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes – synthetically produced

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Synthetically produced for cosmetic use.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating; excellent tolerability.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.

Works Well With: Other b vitamins,niacinamide,antioxidant complexes

Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Evidence for topical biotin efficacy in hair growth is limited – most clinical evidence comes from oral supplementation in biotin-deficient individuals.

Last Verified: Cosing database,cir safety assessment,patel et al. (2017) skin appendage disorders

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides exceptional opc antioxidant activity and collagen-protecting properties from grape seed proanthocyanidins.

Why It's Used: One of the highest orac value plant extracts – provides comprehensive collagen protection alongside direct antioxidant and vascular-strengthening benefits.

How It Works: Opcs (procyanidins b1-b4) bind collagen fibers preventing free-radical collagen degradation. inhibit collagenase and elastase. cross-link collagen fibers increasing mechanical strength. chelate iron and copper preventing metal-catalyzed fenton radical generation. orac value ~20,000μmol te/g.

Typically Found In: Anti-aging serums,antioxidant complexes,premium skincare

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Active ingredient – antioxidant

Secondary Functions: Collagen fiber binding,elastase inhibition,metal chelation

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%–5%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes – from vitis vinifera seeds

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Plant-derived extract or synthetic.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating; well-tolerated.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.

Works Well With: Vitamin c,vitamin e,ferulic acid,spf,other antioxidants

Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Grape seed opcs' direct binding to collagen fibers (via hydroxyl group-collagen hydroxyprolyl hydrogen bonding) is a unique antioxidant mechanism – not simply scavenging free radicals near collagen, but physically binding to collagen fibers creating a protective opc coating that reduces collagen's susceptibility to free radical attack.

Last Verified: Cosing database,fine vitis vinifera opc review

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides selenium for glutathione peroxidase activity – the primary enzyme for reducing lipid hydroperoxides and hydrogen peroxide in skin cells.

Why It's Used: Used in anti-dandruff formulations and antioxidant enzyme support for skin health at trace concentrations.

How It Works: Selenocysteine is the 21st amino acid, incorporated into glutathione peroxidase (gpx) at the active site for peroxide reduction. selenium (as selenite) supports gpx biosynthesis. anti-malassezia activity in scalp treatments.

Typically Found In: Anti-dandruff shampoos,scalp treatments,trace mineral formulations

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Active ingredient – selenium antioxidant enzyme cofactor

Secondary Functions: Gpx cofactor,anti-dandruff

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 0.001%–0.05%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes – mineral/inorganic

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Mineral/inorganic compound. cosmetic or pharmaceutical grade.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Trace concentrations only – selenium toxicity risk at excess concentrations.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes at recommended concentrations

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Safe at trace concentrations. toxic at high doses – formulation at trace levels only. ewg score: 2–3.

Works Well With: Niacinamide,salicylic acid,other actives

Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities at standard concentrations

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Glutathione peroxidase (gpx) is the primary enzyme for reducing lipid hydroperoxides (produced by uv irradiation of membrane fatty acids) to less reactive alcohols. without adequate selenium, gpx activity declines and membrane lipid peroxidation increases, accelerating photoaging.

Last Verified: Cosing database,brigelius-flohe gpx review,cir safety assessment

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides antioxidant protection, soothing anti-inflammatory effects, and skin-conditioning benefits through plant-derived polyphenols and phytochemicals.

Why It's Used: Plant extracts concentrate bioactive phytochemicals evolved for environmental protection — uv, microbial, and oxidative stressors — that translate to skin benefits.

How It Works: Polyphenols (flavonoids, phenolic acids) inhibit nf-κb-mediated inflammatory signaling, scavenge reactive oxygen species through electron donation, and chelate pro-oxidant metal ions to reduce oxidative skin damage.

Typically Found In: Lipsticks,foundations,eye shadows,blushers,nail polish

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Colorants

Secondary Functions: Colorant

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: As needed for color intensity

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Synthetic or mineral colorant; regulatory approval required per region.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1

Comedogenicity Rating: 0

Sensitivity Concerns: Low sensitization potential at recommended use concentrations.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Well-characterized cosmetic ingredient with established safety profile. generally non-irritating at typical use concentrations. suitable for leave-on and rinse-off cosmetics.

Works Well With: Other pigments,binders,film formers

Avoid Combining With: Incompatible with highly alkaline or acidic formulations (color shift)

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Plant secondary metabolites (flavonoids, terpenes, phenolic acids) are biosynthesized as defense compounds against uv, herbivores, and pathogens. their anti-inflammatory activity typically derives from competitive inhibition of cox-2 and 5-lox enzymes (ic50 1–50 µm), while antioxidant activity involves single electron transfer (set) and hydrogen atom transfer (hat) mechanisms with structure-dependent rate constants.

Last Verified: Cosing eu database; pcpc cosmetic ingredient safety reviews; ingredient-specific safety and efficacy literature

Primary Sources: 2025-01-15