Local laboratory develps new cosmetic ingredient

Skinvisible uses special polymer

Just like the top chefs in the world, the competitive world of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics companies want to keep their recipes a secret. One of those secret ingredients has been developed in Southeast Las Vegas.

Skinvisible has an unassuming corporate headquarters in a light industrial complex on Sandhill Road. A handful of offices line the periphery of a small laboratory and warehouse. Company president Terry Howlett bought it after he learned about Skinvisible's products four years ago while on vacation from Vancouver, B.C.

At the time the former owners were trying to market an antibacterial hand lotion for medical and other uses. What made the lotion unique is its key ingredient made of topical polymers. Most lotions, of any type, use waxes or other adhesives to keep the product on the skin. In this case the products are staying put with polymers that bind to the skin.

"When we bought this company we thought we bought a product," Howlett said of the antibacterial lotion which initially attracted his interest. What he found through laboratory research is that the polymer is the star "product" not the lotion.

According to Webster's Dictionary, a polymer is a natural or synthetic compound consisting of similar molecules linked together. The most well-known application of polymers is plastic. It's hard to believe that the same type of chemicals that make up hard plastics like PVC pipes can also make up lotion.

In simple terms, the polymer binds a product, be it antibacterial lotion, sunscreen or lipstick, to the skin much the same way grease on a baking pan makes flour stick. The grease is what holds the flour to the pan. Another way to think of it is a sticker. The adhesive on the back of a sticker holds the picture onto the surface.

"Skinvisible forms this invisible layer," Howlett said. "We probably all use the same active (ingredients) but it's the delivery system."

Once Howlett understood how the polymers worked he began to see that his adhering ingredient could be used in any variety of products. In fact, he has several deals pending with top manufacturers in the cosmetic and health care industries.

Jim Roszell, Ph.D., is the main chemist at the company. He helped create the original polymer with the original company owners back in Florida. Now, Roszell has helped create several different forms of the polymer to add to a wide variety of products. Using the Skinvisible polymers, as the base ingredient, takes out many of the heavier waxy ingredients used to make sunscreen, lotions and other products, Roszell said.

The company focuses on three topical markets: cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and their own private label products. For the first two, polymers are manufactured in the lab that will be compatible with the product's use (i.e. the right polymer for a sunscreen). Skinvisible does still manufacture its two original products, sunscreen and anti-bacterial lotion, which are often privately labeled for businesses such as hotels and golf courses.


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