The Immortal Jellyfish
Turritopsis dohrnii or more commonly known as ‘the immortal jellyfish’ is a jellyfish that can be found in the seas around Japan.
It is currently the only known creature to have biological immortality.
Like most jellyfish the immortal jellyfish begins as a polyp. After it reaches sexual maturity and mates it can use its ‘currently known’ unique ability to revert back to this polyp or sexual immaturity stage. However these jellyfish still have to face the dangers of everyday like such as disease and predators.
So have scientists harnessed these ‘healing’ powers and made the miracle anti-ageing cream we have all been waiting for? Maybe?
It is currently the only known creature to have biological immortality.
Like most jellyfish the immortal jellyfish begins as a polyp. After it reaches sexual maturity and mates it can use its ‘currently known’ unique ability to revert back to this polyp or sexual immaturity stage. However these jellyfish still have to face the dangers of everyday like such as disease and predators.
So have scientists harnessed these ‘healing’ powers and made the miracle anti-ageing cream we have all been waiting for? Maybe?
Just Another Ageing Cream?
Currently there are thousands upon thousands of ‘anti-ageing’ skin creams on the market ranging from 10c/ml ($10 per 100ml) to $1/ml ($100 per 100ml). Most of these have a key ingredient. Standard ones include: Collagen, Oils, Vitamins and Creams. If so many creams have these or similar ingredients in them they must be effective right?
Collagen is the main protein found in 30% of your body tissue, including your skin. Dermal fillings are a non-surgical procedure were a small amount of collagen is injected below the skin with the intent of removing wrinkles. This is an semi-effective ‘anti-ageing’ treatment however it is very expensive.
So just use collagen based anti-ageing creams?
The beauty industry advertises these creams as if rubbing collagen on your face can have the same effect as injecting it. Unfortunately, these creams don’t work for two reasons. Collagen must be kept at room temperature it loses its structure, hence making it ineffective. Even if collagen is refrigerated correctly, most of the molecules are two big to penetrate the skin.
Other common ingredients have almost no scientific basis.
However, Immortal Cream with JuvefoxoTM is, “inspired by the immortal jellyfish”.
Collagen is the main protein found in 30% of your body tissue, including your skin. Dermal fillings are a non-surgical procedure were a small amount of collagen is injected below the skin with the intent of removing wrinkles. This is an semi-effective ‘anti-ageing’ treatment however it is very expensive.
So just use collagen based anti-ageing creams?
The beauty industry advertises these creams as if rubbing collagen on your face can have the same effect as injecting it. Unfortunately, these creams don’t work for two reasons. Collagen must be kept at room temperature it loses its structure, hence making it ineffective. Even if collagen is refrigerated correctly, most of the molecules are two big to penetrate the skin.
Other common ingredients have almost no scientific basis.
However, Immortal Cream with JuvefoxoTM is, “inspired by the immortal jellyfish”.
Believe that?
Although JuvefoxoTM sounds great it is quite deceiving. Many beauty companies ‘create’ their own ingredients. Any ingredient with a TM is owned by the company who created it, not a miracle anti-ageing ingredient. However some of these trade-marked names are actually real ingredients which have been giving a “stage name”, one that is easier to advertise like the other TM ingredient in Immortal, ArgirelineTM.
ArgirelineTM is the name the cosmetics industry has given to Acetyl hexapeptide-3 which is a fabricated cosmetics ingredient. It is a fragment of a protein (SNAP-25) which is derived from Botulinum toxin or Botox. You are basically rubbing a fragment of a fragment of Botox on your skin which has to be harmless as Botox is too poisonous and dangerous to be in a skin cream. This means ArgirelineTM has no practical effect against ageing. ArgirelineTM is similar to collagen as it is an ingredient which has some scientific basis or an effective way of use against ageing. However in a cream they have no realistic effect.
I researched JuvefoxoTM to see if it has a real scientific ingredient in it however all I could find were third-party beauty websites reviewing or claiming that JuvefoxoTM can mimic the longevity molecule found in the Immortal Jellyfish and encourages regeneration of cells. There is no molecule which reverses ageing. The jellyfish effectively gets rid of older cells only leaving regenerated core cells. If they put the Jellyfish’s cells in the cream you would be effectively rubbing the jellyfish on your face, which may do you more harm than good.
I attempted to contact Immortal Cream (via email and phone available on their website) to find out what JuvefoxoTM really is. I am still to hear back. You can attempt to contact them at:
Call – 1300 433 836
Email – [email protected]
Vitamins A & E
Vitamin A unlike the first two ingredients is a real thing. It is found in almost all types of fruit and vegetables. Vitamin A has been shown to reduce acne and eczema but only when ingested through pills not through skin creams. So the cream is more likely to have an effect if you eat it rather than applying it to your face, probably not a good one though.
Vitamin E is found is meat, eggs, vegetable oils and fruit and vegetables. Vitamin E has many uses and is used in may skin creams. It can have and can have a positive effect on the skin as vitamin E can help all different kinds of cells as it slows down things that damage cells.
Both of these Vitamins may have a positive effect through skin creams but dermatologist agree that until more research is preformed then people are better off eating a healthy well-balanced diet with foods containing these vitamins rather than rubbing these on our face or taking them as supplements.
Lactic Acid even though you may think Lactic Acid is a fluid which builds up in muscle tissue it does has disinfectant and keratolytic properties. Keratolytic means it can remove warts and dermal infections. While this may help some people with skin conditions it won't make a person with normal skin look better.
Salicylic Acid is one of very few proven ingredients found in skin creams to have a positive effect on wrinkles when used in skin creams. Salicylic Acid is commonly found in acne creams. The ABC's TV Show, 'The Checkout' recommends products with Salicylic Acid if you are looking for skin creams, however they recommend creams that cost less the $20 as if they have Salicylic Acid they will have the same effect no matter the price.
Here are two other creams with Salicylic Acid:
Although JuvefoxoTM sounds great it is quite deceiving. Many beauty companies ‘create’ their own ingredients. Any ingredient with a TM is owned by the company who created it, not a miracle anti-ageing ingredient. However some of these trade-marked names are actually real ingredients which have been giving a “stage name”, one that is easier to advertise like the other TM ingredient in Immortal, ArgirelineTM.
ArgirelineTM is the name the cosmetics industry has given to Acetyl hexapeptide-3 which is a fabricated cosmetics ingredient. It is a fragment of a protein (SNAP-25) which is derived from Botulinum toxin or Botox. You are basically rubbing a fragment of a fragment of Botox on your skin which has to be harmless as Botox is too poisonous and dangerous to be in a skin cream. This means ArgirelineTM has no practical effect against ageing. ArgirelineTM is similar to collagen as it is an ingredient which has some scientific basis or an effective way of use against ageing. However in a cream they have no realistic effect.
I researched JuvefoxoTM to see if it has a real scientific ingredient in it however all I could find were third-party beauty websites reviewing or claiming that JuvefoxoTM can mimic the longevity molecule found in the Immortal Jellyfish and encourages regeneration of cells. There is no molecule which reverses ageing. The jellyfish effectively gets rid of older cells only leaving regenerated core cells. If they put the Jellyfish’s cells in the cream you would be effectively rubbing the jellyfish on your face, which may do you more harm than good.
I attempted to contact Immortal Cream (via email and phone available on their website) to find out what JuvefoxoTM really is. I am still to hear back. You can attempt to contact them at:
Call – 1300 433 836
Email – [email protected]
Vitamins A & E
Vitamin A unlike the first two ingredients is a real thing. It is found in almost all types of fruit and vegetables. Vitamin A has been shown to reduce acne and eczema but only when ingested through pills not through skin creams. So the cream is more likely to have an effect if you eat it rather than applying it to your face, probably not a good one though.
Vitamin E is found is meat, eggs, vegetable oils and fruit and vegetables. Vitamin E has many uses and is used in may skin creams. It can have and can have a positive effect on the skin as vitamin E can help all different kinds of cells as it slows down things that damage cells.
Both of these Vitamins may have a positive effect through skin creams but dermatologist agree that until more research is preformed then people are better off eating a healthy well-balanced diet with foods containing these vitamins rather than rubbing these on our face or taking them as supplements.
Lactic Acid even though you may think Lactic Acid is a fluid which builds up in muscle tissue it does has disinfectant and keratolytic properties. Keratolytic means it can remove warts and dermal infections. While this may help some people with skin conditions it won't make a person with normal skin look better.
Salicylic Acid is one of very few proven ingredients found in skin creams to have a positive effect on wrinkles when used in skin creams. Salicylic Acid is commonly found in acne creams. The ABC's TV Show, 'The Checkout' recommends products with Salicylic Acid if you are looking for skin creams, however they recommend creams that cost less the $20 as if they have Salicylic Acid they will have the same effect no matter the price.
Here are two other creams with Salicylic Acid:
elmiplantTM with Salicylic Acid - $20
L'Oreal Volumetric - $80
Scientific Breakthrough?
Despite multiple claims there was absolutely no scientific breakthrough which lead to the development of IMMORTAL. The immortal jellyfish is quite simply a marketing ploy to get people's attention.
Just underneath this is a statement which completely denies this statement which proves the absolute falseness of this product and industry.
Stir?
Several claims are made on the products website with success stories
Unfortunately these so called "results" are almost completely false. This is not just an assumption, it even says in the small print on the website.
"Results may vary, and the testimonials and images featured on this website do not represent typical results."
"Results may vary, and the testimonials and images featured on this website do not represent typical results."
Science Fiction?
Despite what they would like us to believe the ingredient in IMMORTAL are nothing knew and have nothing to do with any seafood. Made up ingredients such as JuvefoxoTM and ArgirelineTM may have some science behind them but this is 'bad science' and won't have any effect when rubbed on your skin. Simple Vitamins A&E and Salicylic Acid which make IMMORTAL an expensive moisturizer. If there was such thing as a cream which you could rub on your face and make your skin younger from an immortal jellyfish then it would make the news. Unfortunately this is not the case.
What about my skin?
Real dermatologists not jellyfish scientists say a healthy diet and washing your face twice daily will keep your skin healthy. If you must uses basic bottom of the range, cheap skin creams with only proven ingredients: Sorbelene, Glycerine, Retinoic Acid (Prescription Only), Salycilic Acid and Benzoyl Peroxide. Don't waste your money on the creams over $20 because the more expensive doesn't necessarily mean the better.