QUESTIONS/ANSWERS
VISIONNAIRE
1. WHY DID IT TAKE MORE THAN 10 YEARS TO DEVELOP THIS PRODUCT?
These 12 years represent the sum of the time it took to create 20 compounds, all of which
belong to the jasmonate family, and to carry out formulation trials to test their stability,
safety and performance. The final result of this long development process is a single
molecule that is now protected by 20 patents.
2. WHAT ARE THE 20 PATENTS ATTACHED TO VISIONNAIRE?
They are protecting 3 major aspect of the product:
- Patents on the extraction process of LR 2412 molecule ( Hydrogenesis TM)
- Patents on the action of the molecule into the skin (Cosmetique Application Patent
TM
)
- Patents on the Formula.
These patents protect the formula’s confidentiality. Our labs keep them secret for at least 18
months.
3. WHO IDENTIFIED THE MARKERS OF AGING?
We used recognised markers that are known by the scientific community to be reliable
indicators of age-related changes in all compartments of the skin. These are STRUCTURAL
markers or FUNCTIONAL markers, but together they pain an accurate picture of how aging is
affecting each skin compartment.
4. DOES VISIONNAIRE HAVE AN IMPACT ON ALL THESE MARKERS?
We focused on biological markers in the 3 compartments of skin (epidermis, dermalepidermal junction and dermis), and for a given compartment, we paid particular attention
to the key markers involved in the aging process.
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5. WHAT EXACTLY ARE HAS2 AND HAS3, TG1, KI67 AND CD44V3, collagen IV, collagen VII,
fibrillin and pro collagen I?
- HAS2: this is Hyaluronan synthase, an enzyme found in the dermis involved in the
synthesis of hyaluronic acid; it is also a constituent of hyaluronasome.
- HAS3: this is Hyaluronan synthase, an enzyme found in the epidermis involved in the
synthesis of hyaluronic acid in the epidermis; it is also a constituent of hyaluronasome.
- TG1: called Transglutaminase 1, this enzyme is involved in epidermal differentiation.
- KI67: it is a marker of cell proliferation. Antigen Ki-67 is found in the nucleus of
proliferative cells.
- CD44V3: is a specific receptor of hyaluronic acid and a constituent of hyaluronasome.
- Collagen IV: is a collagen found at the DEJ.
- Collagen VII: is a collagen found at the DEJ.
- Fibrillin: it is synthesised by fibroblasts, and is the main constituent in elastic microfibrils.
In particular, it acts as a cement, promoting adhesion between the different elements in
the extracellular matrix.
- Pro collagen I: this is also known as "young" collagen and is the main component of the
dermis.
- Laminin 322: previously named as laminin 5, it is an essential component in the DEJ.
- Syndecan: is a protein found in the epidermis that link cells together.
- Epidermal thickness: is the 12th age marker of the skin and is a direct consequence of the
actions of other markers such as: K167 and TG1.
6. HOW DOES [LR 2412] WORK IN THE SKIN?
LR 2412 acts biologically on at least the 12 key targets of aging.
The clinical efficacy of VISIONNAIRE [LR 2412] was demonstrated on wrinkles, pores, vascular
imperfections and skin blemishes (acne marks and scars) and on skin radiance.
7. HOW MANY AGE-CORRECTION MOLECULES HAVE BEEN CREATED BY THE RESEARCH
LABORATORIES?
Amongst the most recent skin-aging correction molecules, at Lancôme we can cite Proxylane,
which was also the fruit of 10 years of Research and which helps recreate the main
constituents in the extra-cellular matrix in three skin compartments; MEXORYL SX & XL, two
filters providing effective and photostable protection against UVAs and UVA + B, respectively.
8. HOW HAVE WOMEN CHANGED OVER THE LAST YEARS?
Today's women take better care of their skin and above all seek a product that will give them
beautiful skin, i.e. no wrinkles, no visible pores, no imperfections and intense radiance.
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9. IS VISIONNAIRE AN ALL-IN-ONE PRODUCT?
VISIONNAIRE is an all-in-one product twice over! It works against wrinkles, pores and
imperfections and can be applied to the face morning and evening.
10. CAN VISIONNAIRE BE USED BY YOUNG WOMEN OF 25?
Whatever her age, if a woman has wrinkles, visible pores, vascular imperfections, blemishes
such as acne scars or marks or dull skin, then VISIONNAIRE is ideal.
11. IS VISIONNAIRE SUPPOSED TO BE USED PERIODICALLY?
VISIONNAIRE can be used all year round, every day morning and evening.
12. WHAT ARE THE LONG TERM EFFECTS?
During our clinical studies, VISIONNAIRE was applied for 6 weeks and the results improved
with each passing week, indicating the long-term benefits of use.
13. WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF LR 2412 / RETINOIDS / RETINOL?
LR 2412 has more global anti-aging efficacy than retinol or the retinoids which only have an
impact on wrinkles. VISIONNAIRE certainly works against wrinkles, but also improves the
appearance of enlarged pores and boosts radiance. In addition, VISIONNAIRE is very well
tolerated even by women with sensitive skin. It can be applied during the day and at night
and will not stain the clothes - all of which are positive points versus retinol.
14. CAN I USE VISIONNAIRE DURING THE SUMMER? DO I HAVE TO USE SPECIAL UV
PROTECTION?
The molecule in VISIONNAIRE, LR 2412, is light-stable. So the answer is yes, VISIONNAIRE can
be used all year round, even in the summer - however, it is always advisable to protect the
skin against the harmful effects of UV rays all year long.
15. CAN VISIONNAIRE BE USED BY WOMEN WITH SENSITIVE SKIN?
VISIONNAIRE has been tested on all complexion and skin types, even sensitive, and was
extremely well tolerated throughout all the tests we performed.
16. WHAT IS THE FULL NAME OF THE LR 2412 MOLECULE?
Sodium tetra hydrojasmonate and tetrahydrojasmonic acid.
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17. HOW DO I ADD VISIONNAIRE INTO MY BEAUTY ROUTINE?
VISIONNAIRE is a fundamental wrinkles-pores-imperfection corrector, it can be integrated
into your routine in addition to your usual products.
It has a non-oily formula which means that it will not make your skin sticky if you layer it with
your other products.
18. AS FAR AS EFFICACY IS CONCERNED, ARE YOU BETTER THAN YOUR COMPETITORS?
VISIONNAIRE is a global product with impressive effects on wrinkles, pores and
imperfections. The international version also demonstrated potential against facial skin
blemishes such as acne scars and marks and the vascular imperfections that cause red
patches.
VISIONNAIRE Asia showed excellent efficacy against wrinkles, vascular and pigmentation
imperfections and enlarged pores.
This global performance against wrinkles, pores and imperfections justifies the "fundamental
corrector" claim.
19. DID YOU CARRY OUT ANY IN VIVO TESTS?
For VISIONNAIRE [LR 2412 4%], we carried out an ambitious battery of tests on 450 Asian
women in which we quantified several of the indicators that typify Beautiful Skin: wrinkles,
pores, skin blemishes and vascular disorders that cause red patches on the face.
20. WHY DID YOU OPT FOR THE 4% STRENGTH?
Our studies on our different reconstructed skin models, our trials with different doses, our
formulation and clinical experience led to select the 4% content for our major new product
VISIONNAIRE. Furthermore, a 4% content, expresses the quantity of the active ingredient and
not the raw material, it is high for a skin care product.
21. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN BETWEEN ACTIVE MATTER AND RAW MATTER?
The raw matter is composed of active matter (1/3 rd) and other elements such as solvants
that have a “dressing” role to make the final formulation easier or more stable. The ratio of
active matter versus raw matter is 1 on 3 for L’Oreal products.
22. WHAT TYPES OF COSMETIC PROCEDURES DID THE WOMEN WHO USED VISIONNAIRE PUT
OFF?
The women recruited to this study originally intended to undergo botox or hyaluronic acid
injections, a chemical peel or laser sessions. And after 4 weeks using Visionnaire, more than 2
women at of 3 decided to postpone the procedures for at least 18 months!
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23. WHY DID YOU COMPARE THE PERFORMANCE OF [LR 2412] TO THAT OF RETINOL RATHER
THAN THAT OF HYALURONIC ACID?
In the dermatology world, the retinoid family, to which retinol belongs, is a reference class of
molecules capable of correcting certain markers of aging – this class of molecules can be
applied topically for the same purpose.
Used topically, hyaluronic acid is best known for its moisturising properties – when used for
age-correction purposes, it is injected deep into the skin and is therefore no longer
considered to be a cosmetic product.
24. IF I DON'T HAVE ANY WRINKLES, HOW WILL THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT WORK IN MY SKIN?
By correcting the other disorders that tarnish your skin's beauty: pores, redness or texture
imperfections.
25. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VISIONNAIRE AND GÉNIFIQUE AND WHEN SHOULD I
USE THEM? CAN I USE THEM ONE AFTER THE OTHER, AND IF YES, IN WHAT ORDER? OR
SHOULD I ALTERNATE, MORNING AND EVENING?
GÉNIFIQUE and VISIONNAIRE don't have the same function: GÉNIFIQUE is a base treatment
to be used at any age; it is the first step in a beauty routine. It is a youth activator which
works on the environment surrounding your genes to give you younger-looking, noticeably
more radiant skin in 7 days.
VISIONNAIRE is a corrective treatment which smoothes out wrinkles, shrinks pores and
erases blemishes such as acne scars and red patches to give you flawless skin.
You can use these two products in layers, one after the other, or alternate between the two,
morning and evening, whichever suits you best.
26. CAN IT REPLACE GÉNIFIQUE IN MY ROUTINE?
These two treatments are complementary.
27. CAN I USE IT UNDER FOUNDATION OR A SUN SCREEN?
Yes of course, VISIONNAIRE [LR 2412 4%] can be coupled with all these products and
included in all beauty routines.
28. CAN I USE VISIONNAIRE DURING THE SUMMER? OVERNIGHT?
VISIONNAIRE is extremely well tolerated and can be used all year round, even in summer
time (UV protection is always recommended during sunny weather).
VISIONNAIRE can also be used at night, it will not stain your sheets.
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29. WHAT IS BIOAVAILABILITY?
In skin biology, bioavailability describes the proportion of a substance that actually
penetrates into the layers of the skin.
30. CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THE BIOAVAILABILITY OF THIS PRODUCT?
We conducted skin bioavailability studies on LR 2412 to establish how much of the product
penetrated down into the various layers of skin after topical administration.
Through our ex vivo studies on skin explants, we were able to show that after it crosses the
stratum corneum, LR 2412 impregnates all the successive layers of skin, from the epidermis
all the way down to the dermis.
We compared it to 2 reference molecules, caffeine, a small molecule known to cross skin
rapidly, and retinol which is known to stay mainly in the epidermis. LR 2412 has four times
the bioavailability of retinol.
31. ARE THERE OTHER REPAIR / HEALING MOLECULES IN THE COSMETICS INDUSTRY AND IN
NATURE?
When creating this molecule, we were inspired by botanical healing processes. When a plant
comes under attack by its surrounding environment or the climate or is damaged, a reaction
cascade is triggered which results in a variety of molecules, including two major families that
allow the plant to heal itself and grow stronger.
These are the salicylates, the best known of which is acetylsalicylic acid or aspirin, and the
jasmonates, and it was this family of molecules that was the starting point for our Research
Laboratories.
32. WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENS DURING THIS TISSUE MICRO-TRANSFORMATION CASCADE?
Our research studies conducted on reconstructed skin showed that LR 2412 acts on 12 key
markers of aging located in the three compartments of skin. These markers act as
intermediaries in a cascading series between the different structures to regenerate the
epidermis, reconnect the epidermis and dermis and give restructured skin matrix.
33. WHAT IS HYALURONASOME? DID LANCÔME DISCOVER IT?
Hyaluronasome refers to the molecules involved in hyaluronic acid synthesis, maturation and
binding to specific receptors. Hyaluronic acid is an important contributor to skin quality and
is present in the dermis and epidermis.
34. WHERE DOES THE NAME [LR 2412] COME FROM?
All the molecules created by our Research labs are given a number, and this has been the
case ever since our labs were created – LR 2412 is the two-thousand and twelfth molecule to
have been created – and we have kept the name.
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35. IS THIS A NATURAL MOLECULE?
This molecule is found in nature. For VISIONNAIRE, we synthesise it using a process that
respects the main principles of Green Chemistry. The process by which it is obtained was
designed, developed and optimised for maximum environmental-friendliness.
36. WHAT IS "AUTO-PROPULSION"?
LR 2412 is a small molecule. It is also amphiphilic, which means it is able to merge naturally
with both aqueous and lipid structures in the skin. As soon as it is applied, LR 2412 therefore
merges with surface lipids without disrupting their lamellar arrangement or impairing skin's
barrier function. We have also been able to demonstrate its ability to impregnate all skin's
layers, penetrating down into even the deepest strata.
It is these particularly attractive intrinsic properties that we have baptised "auto-propulsant".
37. HOW DO YOU MEASURE ITS IMPREGNATION POTENTIAL?
Whether for a molecule or a product itself, it is possible to conduct skin bioavailability
studies under ex vivo conditions on skin explants maintained alive, to monitor just how much
of a topically applied substance actually penetrates into the different layers of skin.
38. WHAT DOES AMPHIPHILIC MEAN?
An amphiphilic molecule presents hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups, which means it can
merge with aqueous and lipid structures.
39. WHAT IS "HYDROGENESE IN ONE POT "?
Hydrogenese found in the dermis is the unique process used to obtain LR 2412. It is called 'in
one pot" because everything is produced in the same reaction, using a precious metal as a
catalyst. This reduces the number of steps required, the use of solvents and the energy
consumed.
This process was designed for environmental-friendliness and has a very positive E-factor
score. The yield is 98%, which is another indicator of how seriously we are committed to
respecting the environment.
40. WHY WAS [LR 2412] DIFFICULT TO STABILISE?
LR 2412 is an active molecule. Our formulation experts had to work with new generation
polymers to achieve formulations that maximised the biodistribution - and therefore the
efficacy - of LR 2412, whilst never losing sight of the high standards of sensory appeal
expected by women.
41. WHY DIDN'T YOU "ENCAPSULATE" OR "VECTORISE" IT?
LR 2412 has a natural ability to infuse into skin's different strata, which is precisely why its
bioavailability is so incredibly – and singularly – high.
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