Scientific Summary: ETERWELL® YOUTH and Senolytic Skin Rejuvenation

1. Evolution of Skincare and Healthy Ageing

The skincare industry is moving away from the term anti-ageing, which carries negative connotations, toward well-ageing or healthy ageing. The new focus emphasizes supporting skin health across all ages rather than simply targeting wrinkles. Consumers increasingly seek holistic solutions that improve firmness, elasticity, even tone, and overall vitality. While chronological ageing cannot be stopped, biological ageing can be slowed or partially reversed by addressing root causes such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and environmental aggressors.

2. Role of Senescent (Zombie) Cells

Skin ageing is strongly driven by the accumulation of senescent cells—cells that no longer divide or produce key proteins such as collagen and elastin, yet remain metabolically active. These cells release senescence-associated secretory phenotypes (SASPs), including inflammatory cytokines, proteases, and reactive oxygen species, which damage surrounding cells and induce further senescence. This cascade accelerates visible ageing, including wrinkles, sagging, and loss of radiance.
Senolytics are compounds that selectively induce apoptosis in senescent cells, clearing them from tissues and allowing natural skin renewal and repair processes to resume.

3. ETERWELL™ YOUTH: Mechanism and Scientific Evidence

ETERWELL™ YOUTH is a patented extract of the rare alpine plant Epilobium fleischeri, standardized in the flavonoid myricitrin, which exhibits potent senolytic activity.

  • In vitro results:
    • -52% senescent fibroblasts at low concentrations
    • +200% apoptosis of senescent cells (without harming healthy cells)
    • +94% collagen synthesis, with strong synergy when combined with retinol or TGF-ß
  • Ex vivo (human skin explants):
    • -46% p21 and -62% IL-1 expression (senescence markers)
    • +44% collagen expression
    • Clear reduction of epidermal markers p16 and p21
  • In vivo (clinical trial, 50 women aged 45–60, over 3 months):
    • +24% improvement in skin texture after 2 weeks (skin appeared 6 years younger)
    • After 3 months, skin appeared 9 years younger
    • +18–19% improvement in elasticity and firmness
    • -17% reduction in crow’s feet volume and -16% reduction in under-eye wrinkles
    • Downregulation of multiple senescence-related proteins (HMGN2, HSPA9, ERO1L, etc.)

Figure 1.

  • Short-term: ETERWELL YOUTH significantly improves skin texture by 24% after only 2 weeks, for a smoother skin surface vs placebo
  • Skin appears 6 years younger after 2 weeks and 9 years younger after 3 months (35% improvement) of using 3% ETERWELL YOUTH ingredient
  • Skin looks more radiant and flawless

4. Sustainability and Origin

ETERWELL™ YOUTH is produced through regenerative farming in the Swiss Alps, with Fair Trade certification, organic cultivation, and a short, fully traceable supply chain. The ingredient has a low carbon footprint (2.9 kg CO₂/kg) and is 100% of natural origin (ISO 16128). No palm oil derivatives are used.

5. Conclusion

ETERWELL™ YOUTH introduces a new paradigm in well-ageing skincare:

  • Scientifically validated senolytic activity across in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo studies
  • Holistic skin improvements in texture, structure, elasticity, collagen, and wrinkle reduction
  • A sustainable, ethical supply chain supporting biodiversity and fair trade

By targeting the root cause of skin ageing—senescent “zombie” cells—ETERWELL™ YOUTH restores natural skin renewal and supports a youthful, healthy appearance at every age.

References

DSM-Firmenich. (n.d.). ETERWELL™ YOUTH. DSM-Firmenich. https://www.dsm-firmenich.com/nl-nl/businesses/perfumery-beauty/beauty-care/products/eterwell-youth.html

DSM-Firmenich. (2024, April). ETERWELL™ YOUTH master presentation without videos [Internal documentation].

The Science Behind