I’ve been rereading some of our posts on GAGs, or if you prefer the full appellation, glycosaminoglycans. Important in their own right (I’ll explain why in a moment), they caught my eye in an upgrade of three Nutra-Lift products, Maximum C, Rejuvenating A and Wrinkle Repair because they have been combined with a growth factor.

Glycosaminoglycans are a family of carbohydrates that help with the maintenance and support of collagen and elastin. They are essential to the epidermal & dermal cells metabolism and keeping the collagen and elastin of the skin in good condition. Nutra-Lift has taken them one step further with Glyco-Repair, which has a plant derived epidermal growth factor (EGF) that is supposed to synthesize TGF-b1 and activine A, two tissue repair mediators.

According to the French company that makes Glyco-Repair, in vitro tests have shown that it stimulates the migratory capacities of cells and in vivo accelerates the recovery capacity of the damaged skin. After 7 days of treatment skin roughness was reduced by 13%. I haven’t found any independent research on this.

The plant from which the EGF is derived is Ceratonia siliqua, better known as carob (the seeds of this Mediterranean tree are typically called locust).

The upgrade to these formulas has not made Nutra-Lift’s pricing any less keen: Maximum C Plus Growth Factors ($34 in the TIA shop), Wrinkle Repair Plus Growth Factors ($39) and Rejuvenating Nano Reneu, Peptide-8 Plus Growth Factors ($44 in the TIA shop)

Ingredients in Maximum C: Deionized water, ascorbyl palmitate, ascorbyl glucosamine, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, L-ascorbic acid, tetrahexydecyl ascorbate, lecithin (phosphatidylcholine), Glycosaminoglycans EGF (growth factor), DMAE, A-lipoic acid, hyaluronic acid (pure), super-oxide dismutase (SOD), mushroom beta glucan, CoQ10, natural tocopherols (vitamin E) L-carnitine, ionic calcium, magnesium, vitamin D (ergocalciferol), boron, xanthan gum, orange rind extract, copper sulfate, zinc.

Ingredients in Rejuvenating A: Ingredients: Certified Organic Aloe Vera Gel*, Peptide-8 Complex (includes Matrixyl 3000 at 5% (Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 PAL KTTKS). Argireline (Acetyl Hexapeptide 8), Di-Peptide 2, Golden Collagenine, Acetyl Glutamyl Heptapeptide Snap 8, Tripitide, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-8, lactobacillus/algae extract ferment, Cetyl esters, Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C ester) Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, (Vitamin C ester) sea kelp/algae, liposomes (from lecithin), Hyaluronic Acid, Lipidure, Ceramide-3, Retinyl Palmitate, (vitamin A), Glycosaminoglycans, Ceratonia Siliqua  (HGF), Carnosine, Grape Seed extract*, Co-Q10, pycogenol*, DMAE Bitartrate, A-Lipoic Acid hydroxyethylcellulose, Marine Collagen, Marine Elastine, Organic royal jelly, Mexican yam, Green Tea*, White Tea*, Milk Thistle*, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran, Pomegranate*, White Cranberry*, Acai Berry, Black Current Seed*, Reishi Mushroom*, Shitake Mushroom*, Licorice, Astaxanthin, Rosemary, Rose Hips*, Oregano*, Sage*, Red Clover*, Tumeric*, Olive Leaf*, Ginger*,Fennel*, niacinamide, Gotu Kola (centella asiatica), Orange rind, Melon rind, l-Tyrosine, Copper Peptide, Zinc Sulfate, Squalene, Colloidal Minerals. *Certified Organic Ingredients

Ingredients in Wrinkle Repair: Deionized Water, Advanced Triple Peptide Complex (Acetyl Hexapeptide 8 (Snap-8), (10%) (Argireline), Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (Matrixyl Pal-KTTKS 3000) (5%) Myristoyl Pentapeptide-8, 1%), Vegetable Glycerin, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Oat Amino Acids, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydoxyethlcellulose, DMAE,Seaweed Extract, Lecithin, Green Tea* Extract (Camellia Sinensis ),Ascorbyl Palmitate ( Vitamin C Ester),Glycosaminoglycans , HGF, CoEnzyme Q-10, GrapeseedExtract (Vitis Vinifera), Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Retinly Palmitate ( Vitamin A) Cranberry* Extract (Vaccinium Macrocarpon), Pomegranate* Extract (Punica Granatum), Flax Seed* Extract (Linum Usitatissimum) (Omega 3, Omega 6, Omega 9), Melon Extract* (Cucumis Melo), Origanum Vulgare* (Oregano) Leaf, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme Leaf), Cinnammum Zeylancium Bark* (Cinnamon), Rosmarinus Offinalis* (RosemaryLeaf), Lavandula Angustifola* (Lavender) Flower, and Hydrastis Canadensis* (Golden Seal Root) *Certified Organically Grown Ingredients