Cucurbita Pepo Seed Extract

INCI: CUCURBITA PEPO SEED EXTRACT
Type: Botanical extract, active ingredient
Origin: Extracted from the seeds of pumpkins and related squash (Cucurbita pepo), often using upcycling methods. Our specific ingredient is an upcycled vegetable collagen obtained through a hydrolysis process.

What it does:

This extract is a source of plant-derived amino acids and peptides, often referred to in cosmetics as vegetable collagen. Its primary functions are:

1. Skin conditioning and hydration: The amino acid peptides are humectants, helping to attract and bind moisture in the skin, improving hydration and suppleness.
2. Supporting skin structure: Provides building blocks that the skin can use to support its own collagen and elastin production, contributing to skin firmness and resilience.
3. Barrier function: Can help reinforce the skin’s natural protective barrier.

Why we use it:

We selected this ingredient for our night repair cream for its innovative, sustainable origin and its role in providing humectant and skin-conditioning benefits. It complements our barrier-supporting actives by helping to improve skin hydration and overall texture, promoting a plump, resilient complexion.

Our ingredient producer uses upcycled pumpkin seeds, aligning with the principles of reducing agricultural waste and creating value from by-products.

Mode of action: It does not contain collagen as found in human skin (which is animal-derived), but rather provides small peptide fractions that are bioavailable to the skin and can support its natural processes.