Fun fact: Immortal jellyfish are known for their ability to transform adult cells into baby cells. Known as the “Benjamin Button of the sea,” they’re one of the few known animals that can regenerate and live forever. Pretty impressive, right? It was with that in mind that U Beauty founder Tina Craig developed the brand’s new moisturizer, The Barrier Bioactive Treatment ($198), which draws on these “immortal” powers to keep aging skin firm and healthy.
Immortal Siren, Craig’s bio-engineered version of this jellyfish (which is created in a lab and doesn’t cause harm to sea life), contains bioactive marine extracts, amino acids, kelp, algae, and native DNA upcycled from fish farms. When these ingredients are delivered to skin cell receptors, they target some of the main causes of skin aging. “They promote repair and renewal, fight oxidative stress, and stimulate proliferation of keratinocytes and fibroblasts and the formation of new skin tissue,” says Craig.
In the same way that an immortal jellyfish reverts to its youthful state when it feels threatened or becomes damaged, Craig says that the moisturizer helps skin behave like its younger, stronger, more resilient self. She explains that because the bottom of your epidermis affects the thickness of your skin barrier, stimulating cellular turnover in the area can help restore its overall strength.
“By delivering nourishment, the quality and speed of turnover are impacted, and the result is a barrier with improved integrity and texture,” says Craig. This also helps to ramp up collagen and elastin production, leaving your complexion smooth and firm.
The formula’s delivery system is as valuable as its star player. Its Siren Capsule technology allows actives to target specific areas of the skin where help is needed most. “Unlike most formulas that release ingredients all over the skin, our microscopic Siren Capsules only break open and release the active ingredients we strategically put inside them when they come into contact with free radicals, like damaged skin cells,” says Craig. “Thanks to this one-of-a-kind technology, U Beauty products treat only your damaged skin cells while preserving your healthy skin cells.”
This means that you only need a low concentration of the active ingredients to reap their benefits, reducing the formula’s risk of irritation and making it safe to use on sensitive skin.
Designed to be used a few times a week, Craig says the moisturizer should be the final step in your nightly routine. “You can count on seeing rejuvenated baby skin, as I like to describe it.”
Despite all of these lofty promises, it’s worth noting that some medical professionals feel it’s still hard to confirm the actual benefits of immortal jellyfish in skin care. Board-certified dermatologist Nancy Samolitis, MD, FAAD, founder and medical director of Facile Dermatology, is skeptical of its efficacy. “Although jellyfish can do some cool things to repair its own tissues, there’s no evidence that using it in skincare can provide any real benefits,” she says. She further notes that a handful of products have used this ingredient over the past decade and that results would be more widely documented if they were truly valid.
Nevertheless, we think the product’s unique approach to skin-firming technology is worth exploring. Shop it for yourself above.
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