A person’s perceived age is determined by physical traits on the face and neck. These traits mostly reflect the integrity of the extracellular matrix, which provides structure, homogeneity and elasticity to the skin.

Matrikines are dermal messenger peptides that instruct skin cells to reorganize and build-up the extracellular matrix. So far, synthetic matrikines have been used in cosmetics. Now, Lassimo Kosmetik investigated and isolated – for the first time – natural matrikine-like peptides from cedar nuts, and presents them in a novel anti-aging concentrate: PhytoCodine®.We show that PhytoCodine® mimics the activity of matrikines that naturally occur in our skin. PhytoCodine® activates the formation of extracellular matrix components, optimizes skin structure, and improves age-related properties of mature skin, such as elasticity, density, wrinkles, and sagging.

Taken together, PhytoCodine® is the world’s first concentrate of plant-derived, natural matrikine-like peptides. It reprograms fibroblasts to build-up extracellular matrix components characteristic of younger-looking skin and thereby, PhytoCodine® directly contributes to a person’s perceived age.