We’re always keen to hear about new ingredients being used in the fight against wrinkles, so when we overhead some beauty editors talking about mannose, we thought we’d best look do a bit of digging and see what all the fuss is about.
A quick search shows that mannose is a simple sugar, similar to glucose that is derived naturally from fruits and some plants. Considering that eating sugar is deemed an anti-ageing no-no as it speeds up the degradation of elastin and collagen - both key proteins in your skin - we were a little unsure how mannose could help turn back the clock. But it appears, mannose it not eaten but applied to the skin and is fast-becoming a new active ingredient for skincare brands.
“This sugar ingredient could become very important key in skincare,” explained cosmetic physician Dr Sach Mohan from the Revere Clinic, London. “It helps reinforce the moisture barrier in your skin to prevent water loss."
So in simple terms, the more hydrated your skin is, the fuller and younger it looks. By adding mannose to anti-ageing products it is helping keep water in your skin which in turn helps smooth out fine lines and wrinkles.
Studies by skincare range Biotherm have also found that mannose surpasses hyaluronic acid’s levels of immediately hydrating efficacy and is equal to urea – the two most commonly used ingredients in moisturisers.
Here’s our pick of the best products that contain mannose:
Biotherm Aquasource PNM Moisturiser
This moisturiser is able to increase the number of cellular layers within the epidermis. By increasing the epidermis thickness, mannose helps to increase the skin’s potential to store moisture.
Garnier Moisture Match
Taking a more prescriptive route with skincare, Garnier has matched a moisturiser to each and every desired finish. From mattifying to illuminating, each product works on every skin type – the one thing all the moisturisers share is the inclusion of mannose as an active ingredient. © Cover Media