Icelandic biotech skin care range goes international

Developed by Iceland-based company Sif Cosmetics, the Bioeffect EGF Serum is a skin rejuvenating product based on a biotechnology formulation that has been derived from plants native to the country.

Sif Cosmetics claims that it is the world’s first skin care product to contain cellular activators derived from plants, making it a ‘next-generation’ anti-ageing treatment.

The product has already been launched in Iceland and has proved to be a significant hit there, despite the economic turmoil that has heavily impacted the country’s economy during the course of the last two years.

Big hit with women in Iceland​

Indeed, the company claims that, such is the success of the product in Iceland, it is now being used by an estimated 20 per cent of the female population in the country.

“It has been great to get such a strong and positive response from users of the first cosmetics product we have launched,”​ said Dr. Bjorn Orvar, CEO of Sif Cosmetics.

The product was only launched in Iceland six months ago, and following the success of the launch there, the focus is now turning to international markets in an attempt to drive sales growth, starting with the UK, Denmark and Poland.

“We are now targeting the international cosmetics market and the first steps in this direction appear positive,”​ added Dr. Orvar.

Epidermal growth factor​

The key ingredient in the formulation is biotechnology-derived epidermal growth factor, a cellular activator that naturally occurs in human skin and has the ability to speed up the rate of skin cell regeneration.

Otherwise, the company claims that the product’s formula is very simple, relying on nine basic ingredients, including genetically engineered barley extract developed in a greenhouse in Iceland. The formulation also has no fragrances or preservatives.

Sif Cosmetics says that on top of the ten years of research and development that has gone into the product, it has also conducted a comprehensive user survey, which claims that 76 percent of users reported that their skin looked younger after using the serum.