A-Z of Bio-Actives


AHA Fruit Acids – Alpha Hydroxyl Acids stimulate cellular mobility and turnover. At Nyasa, we carefully select five different acids (malic, lactic, citric, glycolic and tartaric) deriving from fruits (lemon, bilberry, apple, sugar cane and grape) so that exfoliation and toning works on multiple layers of the skin, not just the top layer. This ensures that the skin’s appearance, smoothness, tone and luminosity shines from deep within, not just the surface. 

Allantoin – Nyasa uses plant based allantoin which provides skin soothing, moisturising, and nourishing benefits. It promotes skin renewal through its karolytic properties (increasing the water content of the extracellular matrix and enhancing the shedding of dead skin cells) and increases the smoothness of skin, promoting cell proliferation and protection. It is beneficial for sensitive or troubled skin. 

Betaine – Betaine is an amino acid that stimulates collagen production and controls fluid build-up to reduce puffiness, firming and rejuvenating the delicate eye area. 

Canola Oil – Canola oil contains Vitamin E, tocopherols and phytotesterols, giving it both anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It balances and improves the skin’s barrier and helps to protect against free radicals and UV exposure, reducing irritation and inflammation. 

Ceramides – Ceramides support the replenishment of natural lipids that are depleted through ageing as well as exposure to harsh or polluted environments. They help to reinforce your skin’s barrier to prevent permeability and lock in moisture, promoting plumper, smoother skin with fewer visible lines.

Coconut Oil (fractionated) – Richer in caprylic acid and capric acid when compared to regular coconut oil, fractionated coconut oil helps keep skin well-nourished, and is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. It supports the skin’s barrier function and slows down moisture loss, helping to maintain softer skin. 

Echium Oil – Echium oil is a rich source of fatty acids (which work as anti-inflammatory agents) and phospholipids (lipids with ultra-moisturising properties). It regenerates the intercellular structure of the epidermis and repairs the skin's protective barrier, improving hydration and promoting a smoothness and reduction in fine lines and wrinkles.  

Evening Primrose Oil – Evening Primrose Oil is a wild flower native to North America which is rich in gamma-linoleic acid, one of the essential fatty acids needed for healthy skin. It contains Omega 6 and other fatty acids, offering anti-inflammatory properties. Renowned across the ages, it helps to moisturise and soften the skin. 

Glycerin – Glycerin mimics the skin’s Natural Moisturising Factor, which depletes with age. With its hygroscopic properties, it draws moisture from the air and helps to keep that moisture locked in your skin, balancing and hydrating. It helps with conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, and protects from harmful UV rays. Nyasa uses vegetable gycerin that is carefully sourced so that it is not from palm oil, in order to save the orangutan habitat. 

Glycolic Acid – An AHA (Alpha Hydroxyl Acid) that promotes cellular turnover and regrowth, increasing the production of collagen synthesis for smoother, brighter and firmer skin. It moisturises the skin whilst reducing pigmentation and the appearance of fine lines. At 8%, Nyasa uses a transformative level of glycolic acid in its formulation of Luminosity Illuminating Super Serum (together with a combination of four further AHAs to support regeneration on multiple levels) to leave skin truly radiant. 

Haberlea Rhodopensis (Resurrection Plant) – A powerful extremozyme that works on multiple levels simultaneously to strengthen, energise and protect your skin. It reinforces the skin’s barrier for protection against pollution and environmental stress; energises and visibly improves texture and redness, delivering powerful rehydration; and (the even more scienc-y bit!) strengthens via enzyme restructuring and reactivation of mitochondrial and keratinocyte activity, stimulating cell growth. 

Heart Seed Extract – Rich in Omega 3, heart seed extract (also known as ‘Love in a Puff’) has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It reduces inflammation, and soothes and softens the skin. 

Hyaluronic Acid – Renowned for its remarkable ability to hold moisture, hyalauronic acid promotes hydrated and elastic skin, helping laughter lines appear softer and smoother. 

Hyaluronic Spheres – Hyalauronic spheres are able to hold even more moisture than hyaluronic acid, working as micro reservoirs in the skin. Providing long lasting hydration, they help to smooth away deep wrinkles, increase elasticity, and recreate the skin’s natural moisture by supporting the water and lipid balance in the epidermis. 

Inca Inchi Oil – Inca Inchi Oil is native to the Peruvian Amazon region. Full of anti-oxidants and rich in balanced proportions of Omega 3 and 6, it moisturises and protects against environmental stresses and pollution, helping to regenerate stressed, sensitive, damaged or dry skin. 

L’Arginine – Acting as an anti-oxidant, L’Arginine is an amino acid that helps to build collagen production. 

Liquorice Extract – The use of liquorice to soothe skin dates back thousands of years. It helps to even out skin tone, reduce redness, and gives radiance to the skin. 

Lupin Seed Extract – A plant based peptide, lupin seed extract increases the synthesis of type 1 collagen as well as the production of high quality collagen that diminishes with age, giving the skin firmness and elasticity, and evening out skin tone. 

Micro-Algae – Dubbed the ‘ocean’s most potent secret’, micro-algae cannot be seen by the human eye. An innovative ingredient that delivers a noticeable effect, it protects your skin from free radicals. Nyasa uses a micro-algae that is proven via clinical trials to smooth, tighten and lift with immediate, visible results that last for several hours.

MSM – Methyl Sulphonyl Methane is a sulphur mineral that is integral to skin’s health, and in particular, the production of collagen and elastin. It helps to strengthen the skin’s barrier and structural integrity, maintain skin cell health, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, even skin tone, and improve your skin’s firmness and elasticity. Nyasa uses the highest grade of MSM with clinically proven results. 

Pomegranate Enzymes – Free radical scavengers with anti-oxidant protection properties, pomegranate enzymes help to deeply yet gently clean and exfoliate the skin. 

Pomegranate Sterols – Known for their anti-oxidant properties, pomegranate sterols increase the skin’s hydration and density, enhancing the skin’s lipid barrier to guard against environmental stress. Nyasa uses pomegranate sterols clinically proven to improve skin density by 29% after 24 hours. 

Punarvana – An Indian plant recognised for its powerful anti-inflammatory properties, punarnava soothes and protects the skin from environmental and biological stress.Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract – A renowned medicinal plant and extremozyme found at high altitude on sea cliffs, rhodiola root extract contains a unique set of phytochemicals called rosavins that are not found in any other plant. As an adaptogen, it works with your body to boost your skin’s immunity to environmental stresses and strains like pollution and sun damage. With a high concentration of anti-oxidant polyphenols and proanthocyanadins, it provides oxidative protection, and stimulates cell turnover, renewing collagen and firming the skin to reduce the appearance of puffiness, sagging and fine lines. 

Rice Bran Oil – naturally anti-oxidant, rice bran oil is full of Vitamins B and E, and Omega 6 Fatty Acids. These help it to penetrate deeply into the skin to hydrate, firm and tighten. Rice bran oil also contains squalene, which can help skin look fresher and more radiant. In Asia, it is a compliment to tell a Japanese woman that she is a “rice bran beauty”.

Rosehip Oil - Harvested from the seeds of rose bushes, rosehip oil is rich in vitamins A, E, F and anti-inflammatory Essential Fatty Acids (Omegas 3 and 6). It promotes cellular membrane and tissue regeneration, helping to balance moisture levels and promote skin rejuvenation, tightening pores and brightening your skin. 

Rosemary Extract – Known for its anti-oxidant properties, this extract fights photo-ageing (caused externally by free radicals and UV sun exposure) as well as glycation (caused internally by sugar consumption), both of which damage the skin’s collagen and elastin production. Nyasa uses the purest, most potent grade of rosemary extract to help treat, prevent and reverse this cellular damage, restoring the structure and radiance of the skin from the outside in and the inside out. 

Rose Water – rose water has been used for centuries in beauty regimes for its anti-inflammatory, anti-septic, astringent and skin conditioning properties. It is suitable for sensitive skin, helping to tighten pores, reduce redness and fight inflammation whilst imparting a gentle, uplifting aroma. 

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract – Derived from a yeast, this extract soothes, firms and promotes cellular oxygen consumption. It reduces the appearance of fine lines and dark circles, and soothes, firms and re-energises the skin around the delicate eye area. 

Seaweed Extract - With a tiny molecular structure, this ocean plant extract delivers actives to the deep layers of the epidermis, creating a long-lasting moisturising effect to leave skin feeling fresh and light. 

Spilanthes Flower Extract – From the Asteraceae family of plants native to Brazil, this potent extract helps to reorganize the structure of the dermis, increasing density and firmness, and instantly remodeling and contouring the skin. It helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles through tightening the collagen fibre network and gently relaxing the muscles of the skin (leading some to call it ‘nature’s botox’).¥ Squalane – Nyasa uses plant-sourced squalane which has a molecular structure very close to the skin’s own. This ensures it penetrates deeply to provide hydration and fight free radicals from within. It rebalances the skin, managing the levels of sebum production, has anti-inflammatory properties which help to manage skin conditions such as acne and eczema, and promotes the production of collagen. 

Sweet Almond Oil – Naturally light yet rich in Essential Fatty Acids and Vitamins A, B, and E, hypoallergenic sweet almond oil penetrates deeply into the skin helping to clean pores and keep skin cells healthy. The Vitamin A contained in the oil can also help reduce acne flare ups. 

Swiss Garden Cress Extract – A next generation anti-oxidant, clinically proven to reduce melanin and tyrosinase production, this potent plant extract helps to even and brighten skin tone by visibly reducing age spots and hyper-pigmentation, and preventing photo-aging and dark spots. The extract used by Nyasa is encapsulated in an advanced vector system, enabling targeted and time released activity for ongoing benefits. 

SWT-7TM (Pure Swertiamarin) – A powerful Ayurvedic extremozyme, pure swertiamarin works on multiple layers of the skin simultaneously, promoting cellular rejuvenation whilst helping to plump and diminish fine lines and, in particular, the more difficult vertical wrinkles. It stimulates stem cell and keratinocyte growth factor production, regenerates and thickens the epidermis for protection against environmental stresses and strains, and strengthens the skin, giving it a resurfacing effect and a greater ability to retain moisture. 

Tetrapeptides – Peptides are amino acids that make up the protein in the skin. Nyasa uses innovative peptides with four amino acids, which are harnessed through the latest molecular biology and epigenetic science techniques. These advanced peptides work with your body’s natural circadian rhythms to optimise skin repair, boosting cellular turnover and regeneration, and promoting natural defences against UV damage. 

 Turmeric Extract – Known since ancient times for its anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, turmeric promotes evenness of skin tone. Nyasa uses a specific extract that triggers cellular radical defence mechanisms against oxidative stress, helping to reduce wrinkle depth and improving your skin’s radiance. 

Vitamin C Activator - Vitamin C is a powerful anti-oxidant that provides a multitude of skincare benefits, most notably helping to fight the visible impact of free radicals and damage caused by UV radiation. It evens out skin tone, improves hydration, and works hard to smooth, brighten and replenish skin. Nyasa uses an advanced Vitamin C Activator that has a more sustained effect than conventional Vitamin C. 

Vitamins and Minerals – within each of Nyasa’s formulations, the advanced extracts used contain a range of nutrients, vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for your skin’s health and vitality. These include Vitamins A, B, C, D, E, F as well as tocopherols, phytotesterols, sulphur (MSM) and EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids) Omega 3, 6 and 9. 

Witch Hazel – Witch hazel is native to North America and, with its high tannin and polyphenol content, has been used for centuries for it soothing properties. It is anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant, able to fight skin damaging free radicals. Known to tighten skin, it can help to reduce under eye puffiness. 

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