We tallied up all the responses we received since the introduction until now, expressed the results as a percentage and created the graph to the right. The results were better than we dared to hope. A whopping 96% of customers either told us that the Tangerine Anti-Shine Cream substantially improved their oily skin, or had no comments.

Only a small percentage (4%) told us that they did not like the product. We are pleased to have made nearly all customers happy; but as the expression goes, we can make most customers happy some of the time, but not all are going to be happy all of the time, which is why Sana Fela has a liberal customer service and refund policy.

We love to hear from our customers that our products work for them, but want to understand why some people were not happy. So, we really would like to encourage everybody to let us know how things are going. We strive to develop the best products possible. In return we ask our customers to be honest with us.

Maybe some of you are reading this page, but don’t quite know what Sana Fela Tangerine Anti-Shine Cream is and what it does. In short, this product contains a special extract made from tangerines that contains nobiletin. This compound reduces the activity of your sebaceous glands and with regular use provides less oily skin. Click here for more information on nobiletin and oily skin.

We close this post by thanking our customers for the trust they put in us when they purchase our products. Our goal is to provide everybody with tools to get healthier, better looking skin. However, our products can’t help anybody unless people know about it. So, if you like our products, tell your friends!     …What are you waiting for?  C’mon, pick up that phone!  Send that tweet!  Post to your wall!  We will be right here when you get back …

Nobiletin reduces oily skin

Our Tangerine Anti-Shine Cream is being discovered by more and more people with oily skin issues. As is discussed elsewhere on this blog, citrus fruits, and in particular tangerines, contain relatively large amounts of Nobiletin. This compound has been shown to reduce the amount of oil that is produced by the skin. Our exclusive patent pending Anti-Shine Cream contains a special extract from tangerine peels that is enriched in nobiletin.

If you ever wondered what other things Nobiletin can do, this post is for you. As it turns out, Nobiletin also has several other important beneficial properties. This post illustrates these, and you will find that this compound has the potential for great future medical applications. There are a number of papers that describe the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties of Nobiletin. This post describes some of the work of Akira Murakami and co-workers (Ref 1).

Nobiletin reduces the generation of free radicals

Free radicals are molecules that can be produced by white blood cells during an immune response. Free radicals are highly reactive molecules and can damage cells and cause inflammation and even cancer. Because the consumption of citrus fruits has been found to be beneficial for cancer prevention, Muarkami’s group decided to study various extracts of satsuma mandarins, one of the most popular citrus fruits in Japan. When they tested the various fractions, they found that the fractions that contain Nobiletin were able to reduce by up to 58% the production of free radicals by cells that had been stimulated to produce them. They found that this inhibitory action of Nobiletin was about as potent as compared to resveratrol, the compound that is responsible for the famous health benefits of red wine.

Anti-Inflammatory activity of Nobiletin

The researchers also looked at the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activity of Nobiletin on skin. When skin gets severely irritated, activated white blood cells accumulate in the affected area. This in turn causes inflammation. The researchers showed that if they treated the skin with nobiletin they could reduce by 3-fold the number of white blood cells that accumulate in the skin, significantly reducing the amount of inflammation.

Nobiletin reduces tumor-formation

As one would expect based on it’s  suppressive effects on free radicals and inflammation, Nobiletin is quite effective in the prevention of a variey of skin tumors. Indeed, the researchers were able to show  that topical applications of Nobiletin at very low concentations were able to reduce skin tumor incidence by up to 43% and the number of skin tumors per incidence by up to 76% (Ref 1).

Summary

In summary, Nobiletin is quite a powerful compound with several beneficial medicinal properties. It will be exiting to see whether further research will confirm these beneficial properties for Nobiletin and whether such research will eventually lead to further Nobiletin-based products. In the mean time, let’s spread the word on the oily skin reducing properties of this exiting substance!

For further reading:

If you enjoyed this post, click here for additional posts on the science behind oily skin treatments

References:

1. Murakami A, et al (2000) Inhibitory effect of Citrus Nobiletin on Phorbol Ester-induced Skin Inflammation, oxidative Stress, and Tumor Promotion in Mice.  Cancer Research 60: 5059-5066

Anybody who has the misfortune to suffer from it will be able to attest to the fact that having oily skin can cause a substantial psychological drain and have a significant impact on quality of life, happiness, self confidence and general well-being.

It is very clear that how one perceives one’s own physical appearance can have a profound impact on one’s psychological state and on social interactions. Sufferers with poor self image tend to interact less with other people and in extreme cases can isolate themselves from social interactions all together.

But let’s go back to basics for a moment. What is a terrible oily mess for one person might be looking pretty good for somebody else. So, the question is how does one judge as objectively as possible what level of oiliness the skin of  a given person is?

How your dermatologist measures oily skin

Dermatologists use a Sebumeter to measure the amount of oil produced by somebody’s skin. This device gives a direct readout  of the amount of oil that has been collected on a special plastic strip (Sebutape) by touching it to the skin for a set amount of time (usually 30 seconds). The tape becomes transparent where it absorbs oil and the Sebumeter measures the variation of light transmission through the strip.

Determine your own oily skin level

Most people don’t have a Sebumeter lying around, so apart from going to the dermatologist, what can be done to get a better idea as to how oily your skin is?

In 2007 Segot-Chicq and coworkers published a paper in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (1) in which they demonstrate that a simple questionnaire with 18 questions was remarkably accurate in distinguishing the oily skin group from the normal skin control group.

They defined the normal skin group as having Sebumeter readings in the range of 70 to 150 micrograms per square centimeter (males tend to have higher numbers as compared to females), whereas the oily skin group was defined as having readings of over 150 micrograms per square centimeter.

OSSIQ questionnaire

The questionnaire is called the OSSIQ which stands for “Oily Skin Self-Image Questionnaire”. The 18 questions are grouped together in the categories of Symptoms, Behaviour and Emotional Status.  One additional question is considered Neutral. Each question has five possible answers that are scored as follows:

0 – Never

1 – Rarely

2 – Sometimes

3 – Often

4 – Always

The higher your score, the oilier your skin.

The OSSIQ questions are (freely translated from French):

Symptoms

1. My skin makes me feel uncomfortable

2. I have sensitive skin

3. My skin is irritated

Behavior

4. My skin condition makes my social life problematic

5. I tend to stay home because of what my skin looks like

6. My skin condition affects my interactions with relatives

7. The appearance of my skin affects my relations with others

8. I try to hide my skin from others

Emotional Status

9. My skin is not pretty

10. I feel depressed about my skin

11. I don’t like to look at my face

12. I don’t like to touch my face

13. I am not happy with the way my skin looks

14. I am frustrated about  the condition of my skin

15. I often obsess about my skin

16. My skin problem is stressful to me

17. I think my skin makes me feel unattractive

Neutral

18. I feel that taking care of my skin constrains my life

The researchers showed that this combination of questions that address perception, behavioral and emotional consequences that are associated with an oily skin condition clearly distinguished the oily skin from the control group. They also showed that improvements in oily skin condition were accurately reflected by an improved (lower) score in a repeat of the questionnaire.

The OSSIQ is thus a valuable tool that you can use to monitor the improvements of your skin.

We are interested in your feedback!

Do the OSSIQ questionnaire before and after you use our Tangerine Anti-Shine Cream (or whichever product has your preference) for a week or two and let us know by how many points your score improved. We will report back in this blog with your collective experience!

If you enjoyed this post, please let others know using your social media of choice below. Thank you!

Also, if you would like to read more about the science of oily skin, see the other posts on this topic.

(Picture courtesy of matchstick)

References

Segot-Chicq E, et al (2007) Development and validation of a questionnaire to evaluate how a cosmetic product for oily skin is able to improve well-being in women. JEADV 21: 1181-1186

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17894702

Nobiletin reduces sebum production

If you have read part one of our posts on oil control and acne, you know that  Nobiletin has been shown to be very effective in reducing the amount of oil that is produced by the sebaceous glands, as well as the overall size of the glands themselves. If you have not yet read this post, click here to have a look. The researchers showed quite convincingly that Nobiletin reduced the production of sebum by hamster sebocytes, both in vitro and in vivo.

Nobiletin is found in Tangerine Extract

Nobiletin is a flavenoid that is present in many citrus fruits, and is especially prevalent in tangerine. The Tangerine Extract we use also has a large amount of tangeretin, which has a very similar structure as compared to nobiletin. For you chemistry buffs out there, there is only a  difference of one methoxyl group between the two.

Formulation and Testing

Over the last two months we have been working hard on putting together the optimal formulation for our new Tangerine Anti-Shine Cream. We obviously did not want to use an oil cream base for this product. After all, we are trying to reduce the amount of oil on your face, so adding more via the base would be kind of counter-productive. It took some doing, but we found an oil-free base that fits the ticket and that in and of it self is a very nice and luxurious moisterizer.

After finding the right formulation the testing team took its time to thoroughly test the new product. The response was very encouraging. One of our testers chose to first use it only on her nose, but within a week decided that the results were so good that she started to use it on her forehead also.  Here is what she said:

“I’ve been testing the Tangerine Anti-Shine Cream for about a week, and I’m already noticing a big difference! I started off just using it on my nose and expanded to using it on my forehead a few days later, and tonight I noticed that my nose was way less greasy than my forehead- which will be soon to follow the pattern! It smells really good, too ”

Kara from Irvine, CA

No strong tangerine smell

One question we received was: “Won’t I be smelling like an orange when I put this stuff on?” (this question came from a male on our test panel) The answer is a clear “No!”. The smell is quite subtle and goes away quickly. You won’t be able to smell it anymore within 15 minutes or so. Our test panel thought it smelled quite nice!

Very fast skin absorption

As is the case for our Acne Treatment product, the new Anti-Shine cream also is absorbed very quickly and spreads very easily. You only need a small dab for pretty much your whole face.

Only for night use

Sana Fela Tangerine Anti-Shine should only be used as a night cream. The reason why is because Tangerine Oil – as do other citrus oils – can make your skin more sensitive to the sun.   Until we have more data, we decided that it is best to only approve use as a night cream. In any case, once-nightly use has provided excellent oil control, so there is no need to have more than one treatment per 24 hour period.

Reducing oil can help prevent acne

There are many factors that are involved in causing acne, and which ones are responsible in each particular case is not always clear. However, since the amount of oil that is being produced by your skin is often correlated to the development of acne, it stands to reason that reducing the amount of oil produced will also help prevent acne.

The combination of Sana Fela Acne Treatment and Tangerine Anti-Shine in our test panel definitely helped to further control acne outbreaks.

One thing we want to test is whether it is possible to combine both products into one. We are actively working on this. One problem is that the Sana Fela Acne Treatment is typically used at least twice a day, whereas the Tangerine Anti-Shine is only a night cream. The obvious alternative is to make it available as a set.

Announcing the immediate availability of
Tangerine Anti-Shine Cream

Sana Fela is proud to announce the immediate availability of Tangerine Anti-Shine Cream, our new oil control facial cream that is designed to reduce oily skin by reducing the amount of sebum that is produced by the sebaceous glands.

Get your own!

Whether you would just like to reduce the oily sheen of your face, or whether you want to help prevent the (re-) occurence  of your acne, we are confident that you will like this new product.  Sana Fela Tangerine Anti-Shine Cream did wonders for the skin of our test panel. What worked for them will also work for you! So, get your own and see for yourself. As always we offer a 100% money-back guarantee. So what do you have to lose? Visit our store and order your own! Experience for yourself how much it will improve the looks of  your skin!

Here is to a healthier skin!

For further reading

How to reduce oily skin and prevent acne (1)
How to reduce oily skin and prevent acne (2)

Part (1) of this series describes how nobelitin, an ingredient found in citrus fruits, reduces the amount of oil that is produced by the sebaceous glands surrounding the hair follicles. Less oil means fewer acne breakouts and better looking skin! This post describes an alternative treatment to improve oily skin. This treatment involves a mixture of three plant extracts, which we’ll call SKS:

COMPOSITION OF SKS

• Sesame seed (Sesamum indicum)
• Kernel oil (Argania spinosa)
• Saw Palmetto Fruit (Seranoa serrulata)

How the study was done

A clinical trial with this mixture in an oil-free base was described in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology in 2007 (Ref 1). Test subjects applied SKS in an oil-free base onto their face twice a day for a period of 4 weeks. After that they were asked to score how much they thought their skin had improved. In addition to this subjective assessment, the scientists also actually measured the reduction of oil produced with a sebumeter and with sebum collection foils.

SKS significantly improves oily skin

SKS was generally very well tolerated and 95% of the test subjects felt that their oily skin condition had improved significantly.
The table below details the results:

The quantitative measurements correlated well with the subjective opinions and also demonstrated that the amount of oil on the forehead and cheeks was reduced by 20% and that the area covered by oily spots had been significantly reduced by 42% as compared to four weeks earlier.

How does SKS work?

As far as mechanism is concerned, it is thought that the SKS treatment interferes with the function of an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase that is found predominantly in the sebaceous glands. Usually, this enzyme activates androgen hormones and changes them into more potent versions. These, in turn cause the sebaceous glands to secrete larger amounts of oil. By interfering with this enzyme, SKS reduces the production of sebum (oil). Less oil means healthier looking skin and less acne!

References

(1) Dobrev, H. (2007)
Clinical and instrumental study of the efficacy of a new sebum control cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 6: 113-118 [Medline Link]

For further reading

How to reduce oily skin and prevent acne. Part (1)
How to reduce oily skin and prevent acne. Part (3)

Overproduction of sebum increases acne

Overproduction of sebum increases the likelihood of infections and acne out-breaks. Over-active sebaceous glands also cause an excessively oily facial skin. This feels unpleasant and is shiny and feels greasy. The pores are large and the whole situation feels unpleasant and ofcourse can result in inreased occurence of acne.

Retinoic acid reduces oil production but has side effects

Since an overproduction of sebum (oil) increases your chances for infections and acne, it makes sense that if you could reduce the amount of oil that is produced by the sebaceous glands, this should result in a reduction of infections and acne. Dermatologists have been looking for ways to reduce sebum production, but there are only a few known medications that are known to be effective for this. The best known are the retinoic acids such as Retin-A. Unfortunately these medications can have nasty side-effects such as severe skin dryness , flaking and blistering, as has been shown to cause birth defects and certain cancers in mice and rats. For more on Retin-A check out The Skinny on Retin-A. Obviously such medications are only available on prescription.

Mother nature to the rescue

While it is desireable to reduce sebum production to improve and prevent acne and oily skin, retinoic acid based medications have many side effects and are only available by presrciption. Fortunately, mother nature comes to the rescue. In the recent scientific literature there are a number of papers that discuss botanicals that have been shown to also reduce sebum production. One of these papers is discussed below. Be on the look-out for another post on this topic soon!

Nobiletin prevents acne and reduces oily skin

In an elegant paper by Takashi Sato and co-workers (1), we can read about the beneficial effects of Nobiletin on sebum reduction. Nobiletin is a flavonoid that is present in the peel of many citrus fruits. It is especially prevalent in mandarines (Citrus nobilis). Medicinal flavonoids have been shown to have a variety of beneficial effects when taken internally or used topically. These include antioxidant, free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory activities, as well as antitumorigenic and antitumor metastatic activities (1).

The researchers applied a mixture of 2% nobiletin in 95% ethanol and 5% glycerol to the ears of hamsters once a day for 14 days and then measured the amount of triacylglycerol on the skin surface. Triacylglycerol is the main constituent of mammalian fat and is a major component of sebum. They also made microscope sections of the skin and analyzed the size of the sebaceous glands. The treatment decreased the amount of triacylglycerol on the skin surface by 34% and also reduced the size of the sebaceous glands. The researchers were even able to show that nobiletin reduced the rate of cell divisions by sebocytes, the cells in the sebaceous glands that secrete sebum.

Adapted from Sato et al. J Invest Dermatol 127 (2007) 2740

In another study, the researchers treated cultured hamster sebocytes with nobiletin. When these cells are treated with insulin, they respond by producing high levels of oil (triacylglycerol – compare the left two bars in the graph: “control” and “10 nM insulin”). By simultaneously treating the cells every 3 days with increasing concentrations of nobiletin, the researchers were able to force the cells to reduce the secretion of triacylglycerol almost back down to the low levels secreted in the absence of insulin (these are the three right bars in the graph).

In summary, this paper shows that nobiletin can effectively reduce the amount of oil produced by the sebaceous glands. Since less oil production means less predisposition to acne out-breaks, nobiletin should be a valuable addition to your acne treatment war chest!

Inspired by the scientific data above, Sana Fela is currently working on a new formulation of a Sebum Control cream based on Extracts of Tangerine. We will introduce this product soon. We are actively working on a complete line of botanical skin care products. If you would like to be notified about updates on our products or web site, please leave your contact information on our contact form

*** UPDATE***  November 2009 – Product development for Tangerine Anti-Shine Cream is now complete!  For details, see How to reduce oily skin and prevent acne part (3). Or visit our store to get your own!

References

(1) Takashi Sato, Aiko Takahashi, Mika Kojima, Noriko Akimoto, Masamichi Yano and Akira Ito (2007). A Citrus Polymethoxy Flavonoid, Nobiletin Inhibits Sebum Production and Sebocyte Proliferation, and Augments Sebum Excretion in Hamsters. Journal of Investigative Dermatology 127: 2740-2748

For further reading

How to reduce oily skin and prevent acne. Part (2)
How to reduce oily skin and prevent acne. Part (3)