Heli Pirinen , Product Development Manager at Idea Nature Oy and Master of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, shares his views on the new Vaicute cream.
Heli Pirinen, Idea Nature Oy (introduction at the end of the article):
Physician and natural product developer Raisa Mäkäräinen has developed a moisturizing cream for the mucous membranes of the pubic area. It was developed to moisturize and protect the mucous membranes, and is intended for women who suffer from dry symptoms of the mucous membranes of the labia. All the raw materials in the cream have been selected for their effective properties and the product has been tested with good results on the target group .
In emulsions, water is one of the most important ingredients for moisturizing mucous membranes. Mucous membranes in good condition increase resistance to pathogens and also keep the mucous membranes elastic and resilient.
Various oils create a film on the surface of the mucous membranes, which protects against excessive water evaporation and thus drying out. Olive oil and oil pressed from sea buckthorn berries contain antioxidant properties, i.e. they protect against the harmful effects of oxygen, and are also antimicrobial, i.e. they prevent the growth of microbes. Wheat germ oil is used for atopic skin types due to its gentleness and antioxidant properties, and it has been found to have effects that increase microcirculation and increase collagen formation.
Fat-soluble vitamin E is an antioxidant that effectively prevents the oxidation of oils in the product and also acts as an antioxidant on mucous membranes. It also has a mild anti-inflammatory effect.
Emulsifiers in creams keep the texture creamy by combining the mutually repelling water and oil into a smooth mixture. Emulsifiers also soften mucous membranes and protect in the same way as oils by forming a water-retaining film on the surface of the object.
The product contains plant-based preservatives approved for natural cosmetics that prevent the product from spoiling. They inhibit microbial growth and also work on mucous membranes, promoting the target's natural microbial balance.
The best products for mucous membranes have a pH level similar to the target. The pH of mucous membranes is acidic and therefore the pH of the product has been lowered with vegan lactic acid. The low pH also affects the growth of harmful microbes growing on mucous membranes and thus also prevents the development of inflammatory conditions.
The most interesting raw material in the product is red clover extract. Plants used in natural cosmetics contain many different active ingredients that maintain the good condition of the skin, hair and mucous membranes. One of the most interesting groups of active ingredients is phytoestrogens, the effect of which has been studied extensively as a food in alleviating menopausal symptoms, but also in cosmetics related to skin aging. The most effective phytoestrogens belong to isoflavonoids. They occur in Finnish plants, especially in red clover.
Estrogen is a natural hormone in the body that is important for a woman's health and well-being. One of its important functions is to strengthen the mucous membranes of the genital organs. Estrogens affect the keratin contained in the stratum corneum of the skin and the secretion of sebum, which protect the skin and the body from water evaporation and against microbes. In addition, the pigment cells in the skin, i.e. melanocytes and collagen and elastin, are dependent on the amount of estrogen. The decrease in estrogen is seen as drying of the skin and mucous membranes. Studies have shown that phytoestrogens affect estrogen receptors and thus activate the production of estrogens in the body. This has been seen as a slowdown in the symptoms of aging. One reason has been suggested to be the ability of phytoestrogens to increase the production of hyaluronic acid, collagen and proteins.
The product has also been included in research projects at the University of Oulu, which are verifying the effectiveness of the product.
- Heli Pirinen, Idea Nature Ltd.
If you are interested in the topic, you can find more information in these publications:
Działo, M. et al. 2016. The potential of plant phenolics in prevention and therapy of skin disorders. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 17(2).
Mustonen, E. et al. 2018. Variety, time of harvest and conditions during growing season have impact on red clover isoflavone content. Agricultural and Food Science 27: 102–109.
Patisaul, H. et al. 2010. The pros and cons of phytoestrogens. Front Neuroendocrinol. 2010 October ; 31(4): 400–419.
Pirinen, H. et al. 2019. Enzymatic, yeast and lactic acid fermentation of Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus L.) leaves.
Sirotkina, A., Harrath, A. 2014. Phytoestrogens and their effects. European Journal of Pharmacology.
Heli Pirinen, Product Development Manager at Idea Nature Oy, has a Master of Science (M.S.) in Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, a collection sample inspector and a specialist in the bio field. He has worked as a teacher at Kainuu Vocational College teaching product development for over 12 years, and has been an expert in several projects and research projects. He works as a developer in the natural product sector in national networks. Heli Pirinen has published a textbook for teaching natural products, Natural Product Guide (National Board of Education/2018), and is currently writing a natural cosmetics guide for teaching and entrepreneurs. Heli Pirinen's company Idea Nature Oy develops products for food, natural cosmetics, animal care products and feed, trains and mentors companies. The company's motto "Product development through science" speaks of strong cooperation with universities and research institutes.