Teaching Skin to Remember: The Breakthrough of IDEO Skincare
*IDEO SKINCARE
*IDEO SKINCARE
In the bustling world of beauty, it is rare to come across a tale as multifaceted and compelling as that of IDEO Skincare. Its genesis, deeply rooted in the academic halls of Harvard and the innovative labs of UCLA, is the stuff of cinematic storytelling. While Andrew Shemin founded and crafted the IDEO Skincare brand, its scientific foundation is the result of the unwavering dedication and ingenuity of Dr. John P. Blass—a beacon in biochemistry and neuroscience. Together, their collaboration bridges the intricate worlds of neurology and dermatology, heralding the advent of a transformative skincare solution—the R•M•A Complex.
But what is it about this complex, initially conceptualized to rejuvenate the aging brain, that holds the promise of rewriting the narrative of skincare? At its core, it’s the audacious idea of “skin memory” — the notion that our skin can be taught, or rather reminded, of its youthful vigor. In an industry awash with promises of superficial aesthetic enhancement, the introduction of a serum that penetrates the cellular matrix and rekindles its youthful energy is nothing short of revolutionary.
As we embark on this discussion with Andrew Shemin, we're taken on a voyage that delves beyond the surface. It’s a journey that encompasses not just the skin's superficial glow, but its intrinsic cellular dance. From firsthand tales of dramatic transformations to the brand's vision to weave the threads of beauty, longevity, and brain health, this dialogue promises insights into a skincare philosophy that’s as profound as it is transformative. In the interview that follows, be prepared to uncover the science, the success stories, and the aspirations of a brand that's challenging conventions, setting new paradigms, and redefining the future of skincare. Join us as we explore the world of IDEO Skincare—a world where beauty meets science, where memories hold the key to youthfulness, and where the pursuit of a radiant complexion is just the beginning.
Can you tell us more about the journey and inspiration behind the development of IDEO Skincare and the R•M•A Complex?
The full version of the journey behind IDEO Skincare would truly be worthy of a movie. It began decades ago in the research of Dr. John P. Blass. He was top of his class at Harvard, studied Biochemistry in London as a Marshall Scholar for his Ph.D, and after an M.D. degree on top of that, he was trying to understand the biomechanics of aging in the brain as a professor and researcher at UCLA and the Burke Neurological Institute at Cornell University. He always worked with brain issues—first children, and then older dementia patients. His discovery of our patented R•M•A Complex actually began as R•G•M Complex -- an ingestible version of the formula centered on glucose, which could cross the blood-brain barrier and fuel cellular rejuvenation in the brain. He got the idea to test the complex on the skin as well, beginning with a test on a surgical scar that his wife had. The scar, which was several years old, completely disappeared. When I got involved with the company, we developed this as a serum so it could penetrate even deeper. Now the goal is to bring healthy, youthful skin to all people and eventually do more work to develop treatments for hard-to-treat skin conditions such as scars, burns, and stretchmarks. Dr. Blass’s purpose for entering medicine was to be a gift for all people and that is what is always guiding IDEO Skincare.
The idea of "skin memory" is fascinating. Can you explain how IDEO Skin Memory Serum™ helps skin cells remember their youthful function and what makes it unique compared to other anti-aging products on the market?
Most skincare products are formulated with active ingredients that treat the superficial aesthetic condition of the skin. What's unique and different about the skin memory process is our proprietary R•M•A Complex which is a molecule so small that it penetrates the cell and feeds a specific point in the mitochondrial metabolic cycle so that the cell processes energy differently--namely it processes its energy source faster. Dr. Blass discovered that this was the key difference between an aged cell and a young cell. If you look at the skin of a 21 year-old, a 45 year-old and a 65 year-old, there are essential differences that are differences caused by time alone. Skin Memory Serum affects the biological change that is driven by time, so your skin is truly remembering how to function in a more youthful way. Our other ingredients back up that process with additional ingredients such as aloe, hyaluronic acid, and vitamins. but the key R•M•A Complex helps your skin to actually act younger.
IDEO Skincare has garnered attention and recognition, including being featured on the Drew Barrymore Show. How has this exposure impacted the brand and its mission to revolutionize anti-aging skincare?
Being featured on the Drew Barrymore Show was really exciting and our first national television exposure. We had a record-breaking day of sales and its influence has lasted as people continue to view it online. Skincare is a really crowded marketplace and it's hard to be heard above the fray. You just have to keep reinforcing your message about the benefits and results of the advance technology and hope they will see it for themselves. Beauty expert Danny Seo, who included IDEO on Drew Barrymore Show touted us "as the biggest breakthrough in beauty since La Mer." That is exactly what we would like to be known for and hope that more exposure will inform the market about the unique way we bring results in a way that is new and different.
In terms of application, when is the best time to use IDEO Skin Memory Serum™ in a skincare routine, and how does it interact with other skincare products like moisturizers?
We recommend using IDEO Skin Memory Serum™ twice a day as part of the morning and evening skincare routine. Adding it to your nighttime ritual will allow more time for the product to work overnight. Consistent usage twice a day really helps results to appear more quickly. Like any other serum, it works best after cleansing and toning and before moisturizing. Our customers tell us it also creates a nice, smooth canvas for makeup. It shouldn't react adversely with retinols or retinoids. To speed up skin cell turnover, we recommend skin be dry, and exfoliated at least twice per week to help the serum penetrate more deeply.
IDEO's Skin Memory Serum™ is effective for a broad spectrum of skin types. Can you share how the product was able to achieve such versatility?
The ingredients in our technology for our IDEO's Skin Memory Serum™ are so small that they penetrate to the mitochondria of the cell. That means for any skin type, the R•M•A Complex will be able to do its work. Everybody's mitochondrial metabolism functions essentially the same way, so the key compound will work on any skin type. In theory, even the RGM Complex designed for the brain would not only help the brain, but every organ in the body. The root science here is very powerful. One of the nice things for our older customers is that the older your cells are, the more our product can be helpful. So a 60 year-old cell gets a lot of benefits from the serum. For someone 28, the benefit may be more preventative, because a less aged cell simply has less damage to undo. Because IDEO has clinically proven benefits in eight skin concerns, there’s something for everyone, but not always the same thing. For some it might help evening the skin tone and fading spots, for others, it’s about filling in fine lines and lessening redness.
Considering the product's benefits appear in a short time and continue to improve over weeks, how should users manage their expectations in terms of results and how to best incorporate the serum into their skincare routine?
That's a good question. Our clinical studies show statistical improvement in as little as 5 days, but that doesn't mean that everyone's skin is going to see results at the same time. Again, a 60 year-old might see much more dramatic results than a 28 year-old, but there are a number of very specific factors that could affect what any individual person might expect to see happen. There's no way to scientifically account for all of them. Everything from how much water you drank that day to the exposure to pollution could potentially affect just how quickly the product works. Perception can be reality, so I recommend taking a "before" picture, and then taking a picture again after in the exact same lighting conditions and then comparing them. Sometimes the change is so dramatic your friends will ask if you've had a facelift, but it will likely be more subtle.
Can you share any testimonials or success stories from IDEO Skincare customers who have experienced significant transformations in their skin?
My favorite success story is a woman who went to her doctor and sat in the waiting room for an hour and finally went up to the receptionist and asked when the doctor was going to be able to see her. She gave the receptionist her name. The receptionist said, "Oh, it's you!! I was looking for a woman in her 70's and thought she hadn't arrived yet!" We've had several customers who told me their friends thought they had cosmetic surgery done the first time they saw them after using the serum. A couple customers have asked how they can invest in the company after using it, which is always a good testimony to its performance. I've read in the reviews from our website that provide testimonials about scars fading, persistent redness lessening, marionette lines minimizing, and sagging jawlines tightening. It's not just about having a nice temporary glow but the skin cells are actually functioning in a more youthful way. It is really transformative and it's hard to go back once you see the results.
IDEO Skincare has gained international recognition. Can you speak to the brand's global presence and its approach to catering to diverse markets and cultural preferences?
We are currently selling in North America. However, we've generated interest from consumers as far away as Thailand, France, Switzerland, and Australia. We are working on getting ready to sell in Europe, the UK and the Middle East. The brand's inspiration and aspiration is to help all people feel great in their skin, so that translates easily across cultural lines.
What's next for IDEO Skincare? Are there any upcoming product innovations or advancements in anti-aging research that you can share with us?
We are looking to make our product accessible to more consumers by expanding distribution in select retail channels. We'd love to be connected to speciality beauty retailers that provide high touch service and put a premium on science. We also want to partner with the larger national retailers so we can more accessible. We are hoping to release our next new breakthrough product in 2024. It will also feature our patented R•M•A Complex. We'd like to do some more scientific research to validate the claims we've been hearing from our customers so we might eventually apply this patented technology to more medical-grade concerns. And ultimately, we want to use the awareness of the power of the memory serum to bring focus back to Dr. Blass's brain research. Longevity science is a growing field and we want to be at the nexus of longevity, beauty, and the brain.
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Interview by Jalila Levesque