ABSTRACT:
It was a dark and stormy night… No seriously.

Cruciferous vegetables have, locked inside the plant, the tools required to produce a defense arsenal capable of a host of skin protective activities. These tools include the starting materials and the physiological systems to convert a passive batch of ingredients to a well-oiled machine, which is capable of profound bioactivity. The well-oiled machine is fueled by a class of compounds known as ITCs (a.k.a. isothiocyanates). They stimulate our skin to create defense mechanisms against insults such as those launched by sunlight via free radicals, pollution via various modes of percutaneous absorption of chemicals found in unclean air, and carcinogens.

The ITC known as sulphoraphane has been documented to mobilize cellular defenses that protect skin against damage by ultraviolet radiation (2007, Talalay et al. PNAS). This means that by applying sulphoraphane to the skin, your body’s own defense system will be activated. This creates potent biological activity in your skin’s cells that will decrease inflammation, destroy harmful oxides (per-, super-, and hydroper-), and increase antioxidant activity. Not only is this a win-win for your skin’s potential to look younger longer, but you can decrease the amount of sunscreen you put on your body and get better protection against sun-induced damage. The result is less aging of the skin, fewer wrinkles, less age spots – with less sunscreen.

And, by using less sunscreen, your body can use the sunlight you are exposed to produce the much needed vitamin D you need to live. If you use too much sunscreen, then your body cannot produce the vitamin D you need for survival.

Recap: Apply your vegetables to your skin and you can have less damage and more vitamin D.

Dr. Chedekel received a B.S. in Chemistry from UCLA and a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Chedekel has taught, and conducted research both full and part-time in Chemistry Departments around the country including, The Ohio State University, The Johns Hopkins University, University of California at Davis, California State University Chico, California State University Los Angeles, and University of Redlands.

Dr. Chedekel’s research career and interests include photochemistry and photobiology of skin, photochemistry and photobiology of melanin pigmentation, natural products chemistry, ultra low temperature chemistry, and environmental chemistry.

Dr. Chedekel has published over 60 scientific papers in peer reviewed journals.

Currently, Dr. Chedekel is an owner of MeL-Co®, a company he co-founded in 1990.

ABSTRACT:

Today's Cosmetic formulators are increasingly asked to create more natural formulations. But the true definition of natural is sometimes difficult to understand. How do you ensure that the natural ingredients you use are good for the consumer, your formulation, and the world's environmental and economic future?

Most are familiar with shea butter's natural benefits to Beauty Care. However, shea butter can bring much more than skin benefits. With AAK, it can also be a tool for social and economic improvement. In this presentation you will understand where shea butter comes from, how it is harvested, and the effect it has on the daily lives of the local West African people. As a product harvested for thousands of years, learn how the native people integrate shea butter into their culture and livelihood. Jari will describe the efforts and results of AAK's long term partnership with the United Nations Development Program which strengthens the viability and long term outlook for the villages of Burkina Faso, the 3rd poorest nation in the world. This cooperation has greatly improved the local economy and social condition of the region.

As Technical Director for AAK Lipids for Care, Jari Alander is heading the global New Product Development effort and for AAK for the Cosmetics and Personal Care Industry. He is also responsible for the AAK Technical Sales group located in Sweden, Denmark and France.

Jari earned his MSc in Chemical Engineering at the University of Lund in Sweden in 1984, and has been working with product development, formulation and research at AAK (formerly Karlshamns) for several years.
He has worked extensively in the science of surface chemistry research at YKI - Institute for Surface Chemistry, Stockholm, Sweden.
Jari's is currently working within AAK to meet the industry's desire for innovative & functional cosmetic ingredients with well substantiated sustainability, safety, and efficacy.