Interview with Henning Jüchter from Proceanis

You decided to found Proceanis after a kitesurfing holiday by the sea; could you tell us more?

Henning Jüchter : It was actually during a kite vacation in South Africa where we met a veterinarian on the beach in Cape Town who told us about his work. He enthusiastically told us about the results of his research in which he mixed hyaluronic acid in the feed of horses and achieved sensational results. Back in Germany, we thought, why can't oral hyaluronic acid also be used for humans? So we started looking for relevant studies and developed the Proceanis hyaluron broad-spectrum-complex in two years together with molecular biologists. This is how the world's first Hyaluron Beauty Drink was created in 2012.

What are the preconceived ideas you have heard about hyaluronic acid to ingest?

Henning Jüchter : Mostly it is the doctors who inject hyaluron and have not really dealt with nutrition who are skeptical about hyaluron to drink. Otherwise, most people usually do not even know that hyaluron is a substance produced naturally in the body.

What are the benefits of its use vs when applied to the skin?

Henning Jüchter : Hyaluron is not without reason so popular in topical cosmetics. It provides a moist film on the skin. However, hyaluron applied to the skin cannot penetrate into the lower layers of the skin and thus cannot achieve a sustainably higher degree of moisture. In addition, drunk hyaluron also has far more effects than just moisturized skin, such as moisturized eyes and after prolonged use also better lubricated joints. In general, all processes in the body run better the more moisturized they are.

Why is it crucial to take the Hyaluron Drink for at least 28 days and possibly longer?

Henning Jüchter : Due to the slow metabolic processes in the connective tissue, the body needs at least about 30 days. It varies from person to person when the positive effects appear. The deficit of the body's own hyaluron increases with age. Therefore especially the elderly see faster results.

Any plans about how to develop hyaluronic acid in the future?

Henning Jüchter : We are currently working on a further improvement of the hyaluron broad-spectrum- complex to achieve an even higher bioavailability. However, since this requires quite complex tests, we will probably need another year. But we can already say that we are sure to achieve a further increase in bioavailability, so that even more of the precious hyaluron reaches where it should.

Interview with Anna Lahey from Vida Glow

You created Vida Glow to share your vision of healthy and holistic beauty; what do you think healthy and holistic beauty is?

Anna Lahey : My introduction to marine collagen was completely transformative. After suffering from hair loss and trying every supplement available, I only achieved tangible, long-lasting results from marine collagen. Collagen supplementation didn’t just transform my hair, skin and nails. It changed my lifestyle, diet and outlook on holistic, healthy living. For me, holistic beauty adopts a bi-directional approach. It looks at health and beauty from the inside out and outside in. When you’re working from a cellular level and a surface level – you have all bases covered and your results will be supercharged.

What are some of the misconceptions you have heard about ingesting collagen?

Anna Lahey : The most common misconception I hear is that collagen supplementation doesn’t work. There’s strong scientific data around benefits of collagen supplementation, but marine collagen and its efficacy is still making its way into mainstream conversations. I’m detail-orientated and extremely discerning when it comes to my personal beauty routine – so I understand why consumers want to learn more about how ingestible beauty works inside the body to deliver visible results. I’m passionate about heightening the industry and consumers’ understanding of marine collagen supplementation, its efficacy and benefits. In its natural state, collagen is a large molecule that has a low bioavailability – so raw collagen is poorly absorbed and doesn’t offer much benefit for skin. Vida Glow overcomes this with a hydrolysation process that breaks down raw marine collagen into small peptides and amino acids. These peptides are the building blocks of collagen, and amino acids aid collagen’s production in the skin’s dermis. Sharing our clinical-proven results and education is a priority for Vida Glow.

What makes Vida Glow unique compared to other collagen-based supplement brands?

Anna Lahey : As a science-backed ingestible beauty brand, we’re investing heavily in innovation, robust research and clinical trials. Vida Glow’s unmatched efficacy and fast, tangible results are achieved through hydrolysation. Hydrolysation is the natural, enzymatic process in which Vida Glow’s Natural Marine Collagen peptides are reduced from 300,000 Daltons to small, highly bioavailable molecules as low as 2000 Daltons. This gives Vida Glow’s marine collagen an over 90% absorption rate and clinically proven results. Our marine collage has also been clinically studied in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial by an independent hospital in France. The clinical trial found in taking 2.5mg of marine collagen daily, 0.5 grams less than a Vida Glow sachet, there was a 60% improvement in the appearance of wrinkles, and skin’s firmness and hydration was increased after 12 weeks. To hero our science-driven formulas and bidirectional beauty philosophy, we also work with our Skin Professionals. As a trusted and industry-leading panel of skin science and skincare experts, our Skin Professionals lead our education campaigns and support us in bringing Vida Glow’s expertise to life.

Why is marine collagen’s quality higher than the one extracted from different sources (ex. bones)?

Marine collagen is absorbed 1.5 times more efficiently than other collagen sources. The key difference that sets marine collagen apart from bovine and porcine collagen is the size of the peptides. Marine collagen peptides are much smaller than bovine or porcine collagen and are better optimised through hydrolysation. This means Vida Glow’s bioavailability is higher, and our Natural Marine Collagen is highly efficacious. For skin, hair and nails, marine collagen is also high in collagen types I and III, meaning its strength is in delivering beauty benefits.

What are your next launches at Vida Glow?

Anna Lahey : I’m so excited for the future of Vida Glow. In 2022, we’re bringing more of our best-selling and award-winning innovations to France. We’re excited to introduce the rest of the world to Anti-G-Ox, our premature ageing preventor, our brightening Radiance capsules. We also have a skincare line launching soon. Vida Glow is driven by clinical efficacy and real, glowing results. As we work on our new product development and global expansion, we’ll continue to deliver revolutionary, first-to-market ingestible beauty treatments for busy routines, targeted beauty concerns – and real results.

Interview with the founders of Muri Lelu

Could you tell us about the moment you decided to found Muri Lelu and what inspired its creation?

Muri Lelu was created because we saw a need for full flower cannabis to be central to the beauty conversation. As CBD started to gain popularity and enter the marketplace, we noticed that there were no brands embracing the full beauty and healing potential of the plant — from its diverse therapeutic compounds and potent aroma, to the culture and political stigma that informs what most people know about the plant. We wanted to create a brand that was luxury, high performance and clean, yet paid homage to the full potential plant in a way that had never been done before.

What are some of the misconceptions you have heard about cannabis in skincare?

I think the biggest question people still have about CBD is: does it work? The beauty industry is still not educating consumers enough on why this plant is so special, and why it's so beneficial for all skin types. We love cannabis because it's one of nature's most potent anti-inflammatories. It soothes, reduces redness and puffiness, fights blemishes and free radical damage, and is an anti-aging powerhouse. Now - isn't that purely plant magic?!

What is the difference between using the whole hemp plant vs. using only a part?

Cannabis includes over 80+ cannabinoids, each with their own unique benefits ranging from anti-inflammatory to anti-anxiety. When combined with other naturally occurring compounds in the plant, cannabinoids can have transformative effects on our body, mood and skin. These potent benefits are only unlocked when the compounds of the plant are present together, in a process known as the entourage effect. This is why using the whole plant, from the stalks and seeds to the stems, is crucial for maximizing its potential to heal.

Do you have an anecdote to share with us since the brand's existence?

We've been lucky enough to have had an amazing reception by the industry since we launched. We have amazing retail partners like Nose in Paris and Credo Beauty in the US, to press in monumental publications like Vogue, and support from renowned celebrity beauty professionals like makeup artist Jenn Streicher and hairdresser Sunnie Brooke. However, our biggest luck has been launching and thriving, event during the pandemic. Our original brand launch date was scheduled for the day the lockdown was announced in New York (where we are based), and our supply chain was soon impacted as our filling center was diverted to making hand sanitizer. Despite the setbacks, we feel grateful to have made it through and that our partners and teams all remained safe and healthy throughout.

What are your future projects for Muri Lelu?

We'll continue to stay true to our mission of centering full flower cannabis in our skincare essentials, but we have a few surprises coming next year in new categories. We also have something fun (and tasty!) coming for holiday, too!