e extra of
rare benifuki
tea used in
Decorte’s AQ
Meliority range
comes om the
young buds of
the organically
cultivated tea.
It is said to
help with skin
regeneration- the ultimate
aim of anti-
ageing care,
say Decorte
researchers.
W
ith mountains
that reach for the
sky, numerous
waterfalls and lush greenery,
the island of Yakushima off
the southern coast of Kyushu
often has a misty landscape
as it gets the most rainfall in
Japan annually. It is believed
that it rains somewhere on
the island every day.
These conditions make
the World Heritage Site a
paradise for tea cultivation,
especially for a rare variety
of green tea called benifuki,
which accounts for only a
small percentage of all the tea
produced in Japan.
Compared with ordinary
tea, benifuki is exceptional
because it contains a higher
concentration of methylated
catechin, an active ingredient
with anti-allergy properties.
And benifuki extract,
harnessed from the young
buds of the organically
cultivated tea, is a new
ingredient used in Japanese
skincare brand Decorte’s AQ
Meliority range, which will
be relaunched in September
following the brand’s
scientific breakthroughs in
skincare research over the
past decade. AQ Meliority,
which stands for absolute
quality and superior
technology, is the brand’s
most luxurious anti-ageing
skincare range.
THE ULTIMATE
SKINCARE AIM
Inspired by regenerative
medicine, Decorte
researchers sought to
discover what they believed
to be the ultimate goal of
anti-ageing care – skin
regeneration. They found
that three key elements –
cells, scaffolds and growth
factor (GF) – are crucial to
tissue regeneration.
If you are wondering
what scaffolds are, they
can be thought of as wound
dressing materials – a
delivery system to ensure the
healing of wounds.
Growth factors are like
switches. They help to trigger
regeneration signals in the
skin’s dermis layer. With
enough growth factors, skin
can regenerate and make new
cells easily. Not enough of
them? That’s when skin ages
more rapidly.
Structurally, to survive,
the growth factors also
need to be strong in their
environment, called GF
storage. Imagine a tree
that needs to be rooted in
good soil for its branches
and leaves to grow. Growth
factors need such a winning
ecosystem too.
However, the amount
of growth factors one has is
affected by age and oxidation
damage, which is the harm
sustained by cells and tissues
unable to keep up with free
radical production. The
Decorte researchers believed
that if they could reduce the
growth-factor depletion and
increase the stability of GF
storage, the effects of ageing
in skin could be slowed down.
Decorte discovered that
benifuki extract was very
effective in protecting growth
factor cells, improving the
structural stability of GF
storage and suppressing
oxidation.With the new formulation
that includes benifuki
extract, Decorte conducted
tests on users in Beijing
and Guangzhou in China,
and Lyon in France. What
they found: Every one of the
Chinese testers felt their skin
was softer and more plump
after using the products.
And some 97 per cent of the
French testers felt their skin
was more even-toned after
two weeks.THE REBOOTED RANGE
The revamped AQ Meliority
range comprises seven
products, including its most
expensive – the top-of-the-
line Intensive Regenerating
Multi Cream, which costs
$1,650 for a 45g jar.
Why is it so expensive?
First, it has a higher
concentration of benifuki
extract as well as 30 other
ingredients, compared with
other products in the range.
Second, the more
ingredients a product has, theharder it is to mix or emulsify
them. So creating this cream
takes three times more man
hours than it would to make
regular products.
Other key ingredients
include extracts of Murasaki-
cha (a tea leaf with powerful
antioxidant properties),
white mucuna extract (helps
improve blood circulation),
black soya nectar (prevents
thinning of skin) and white
birch water (also called the
“water of life”, collected in
spring when the snow begins
to melt).
Another product from
the range that is worth trying
is the Intensive Revitalizing
Emulsion ($400 for 200ml).
It has a high concentration of
oleic acid to soften skin, and
should be used before toner- Decorte believes this is the
key to preparing the skin to
absorb other products after.
For an entry-level
option, try the Radiance
Repair Foaming Face
Wash ($135 for 200ml).
It feels like a thick serum
and creates a dense foam
which melts away dirt and
sebum. It has botanical
cleansing ingredients and is
hypoallergenic.
Other products include
the Intensive Revitalizing
Lotion ($750 for 200ml), the
High Performance Renewal
Cleansing Cream ($135
for 150g), the Intensive
Regenerating Eye Cream
($400 for 20g), and the
Rejuvenating Glow Day
Serum and Restorative
Radiance Night Serum ($670
for 30ml of each).
Decorte says that with
regular use of AQ Meliority
products, you can expect skin
that feels more lifted and
looks less dull, as well as a
reduced appearance of fine
lines. You’ll also appreciate
the green, floral scent, which
is intended to relax and calm.
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