The Skinsmiths Ultimate Guide To Enzymes
The Skinsmith | 16th September 2024
(Photo credits: Look Fantastic and Skin Beauty)
To celebrate Eminence’s Superfood Enzyme Collection (Launch - Autumn 2024) we thought we would delve into all there is to know with our ultimate guide to enzymes and skincare!
What Exactly Are Enzymes?
Enzymes are vital for life… they are catalysts which means they speed up reactions without being affected or destroyed themselves.
All our cells within our bodies contain a multitude of enzymes. They produce a variety of biochemical reactions to ensure our bodies function as they should, and this helps keeps us alive and well. As these enzymes are catalyst it means the enzymes speed up a chemical reaction in our body, a great example of how enzymes do this is the process of breaking down food and drinks into smaller digestible molecules making it easier for the body to absorb and then turn into energy… enzymes do this for us and they do it effectively and efficiently! We need enzymes for our bodies to function properly.
The Ultimate Guide To Enzymes Continued….
“Enzymes play a large part in the day-to-day running of the human body. Enzymes work by combining with molecules to start a chemical reaction. They work best at certain pH levels and temperatures.
They play a vital role in the proper functioning of the digestive system, the nervous system, muscles, and more.” Eminence Organic Skincare
Want to Know A Bit More (in our ultimate guide to enzymes)…?
Enzymes are proteins, they are not a living organism but are a vital part of a living organism such as humans, plants, animals and can even be found in soil and are essential for the survival of all forms of life. They are one of mother nature’s tools, breaking down and building molecules by speeding up biochemical processes.
Enzymes come in a variety of different shapes and just like other proteins are made up of amino acid chains. Each enzyme is unique and performs a specific biochemical reaction, they are a three-dimensional structure and contain what is called an active site. This active site is where the biochemical reactions occur and are uniquely shaped a bit like a lock. They will only fit certain molecules and those molecules are known as a substrate… so you can think of a substrate as the key! The key fits the lock and the speeded up biochemical reaction can occur, and this can happen time and time again as the enzyme is not destroyed by the process.
“HOW DO ENZYMES WORK? https://aptus-holland.com/enzymes-101
In this analogy the lock is the enzyme, the key is the substrate, and the keyhole is the active site. The lock (the enzyme) can only be opened with the correct key (substrate) in the keyhole (enzyme’s active site).
When an enzyme and its active site fit a substrate, the substrate breaks down into smaller bits.”
(Photo credit Aptus-Holland)
If we did not have enzymes these reactions would simply not happen, hence their importance to the survival of living organisms. As an example, without enzymes the process of digesting food would be impossible.
You can recognise enzymes as they generally end in the suffix “ase”. You may even recognise the enzyme that breaks down sucrose or sugar, as it is called sucrase!
“The word “enzyme” appeared for the first time at the end of the 19th century. Beer, wine, yogurt and cheese exist thanks to enzymes, but enzymes are not solely food and drink related. Today there are over 4000 characterised enzymes that catalyze natural reactions in living organisms.” amfep.org
The Ultimate Guide To Enzymes in Skincare
The enzymes we use in skincare products are naturally occurring enzymes, we commonly use what are known as Proteolytic and Protease enzymes in our face and body products.
“Proteolytic and Protease enzymes are often used in the skincare industry. Enzymes in skincare work by removing the dead skin cells from the epidermis, the uppermost layer of the skin. These enzymes break down the protein bonds between dead skin cells and the epidermis.” Eminence Organic Skincare
Protease Enzymes include: Papain from Papaya, Bromelain from Pineapple and Actinidin from Kiwi fruit. We use these enzymes as they are perfect for gentle exfoliation of the superficial dead skin cell layer on our skin. However not only do they exfoliate and leave our skin smoother and healthier but they also stimulate new cell renewal, promoting new healthy more youthful looking cells for a more youthful looking complexion. Another benefit of protease enzymes is that they can help reduce inflammation and help with sensitivity.
They work by digesting intercorneocyte cohesion…what!!! Simplified this means they break down the bonds that hold the dead skin cells together. Think of a brick wall and cement. The bricks are the dead skin cells and the cement is the bonds (intercorneocyte cohesion bonds). Once the cement has gone the bricks fall away, and so do your dead skin cells. Clever huh!
We also use what is known as a Hydrolase Enzyme and these work by using water to break down chemical bonds. The hydrolase enzyme we use is called lipase which you may have heard of and this is derived from fermented plant sugars.
In skincare enzymes are a great option for regular exfoliation. They are gentle and work on the skins surface, meaning they often are non-irritating and can be used by all skin types. They also help to keep our skin healthy by removing dead skin cells and are great at promoting new skin cell renewal to keep your skin in optimum condition.
Need To Know More....
We hope this ultimate guide to enzymes in skincare has helped you understand what an enzyme is and how they are so beneficial when added to your weekly skincare routine
For more information on enzymes and which ones are best for you please contact a member of the Skinsmith team by using our quick and easy contact form below. You can also get in touch with a member of our team today on 01305 300950 or by emailing us at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you.