Polysaccharides are polymeric carbohydrate molecules that play an important role in living organisms. Among the best known polysaccharides are starches and pectins. They are used both in cooking and in medicine. Some cosmetic manufacturers use polysaccharides as ingredients. For example, Ukrainian brand Agor has released a line of polysaccharide facial masks.
Agor is a Ukrainian brand of natural cosmetics known for its innovative approach. Its mission is to develop, produce and promote affordable, high-quality, natural cosmetics, ingredients and healthy foods based on ultra-fine powders derived from natural raw materials. It was the country’s first manufacturer to launch the production of powder-based cosmetics.
All Agor products consist of dehydrated powders derived from dried plants or minerals. The company uses the production technology that allows to preserve all the useful properties of raw materials. Its products are free of artificial preservatives, emulsifiers, thickeners, fragrances, colourants, SLS/SLES and other synthetic ingredients that can be found in mass market cosmetics.
Agor offers a wider range of powder-based personal care products such as alginate peel-off masks, exfoliating masks, facial cleansers, dry shampoos, face masks with kelp, body scrubs, cosmetic powders, and more. Among the brand’s most popular products are dry polysaccharide masks formulated with agar, starch and pectin. You probably know about culinary usage of these substances but they are effective as cosmetic ingredients too.
Starch is a polymeric carbohydrate that consists of glucose. It is contained in large amounts in staple foods such as wheat, potatoes, rice and maize. Starch is used in cosmetics as a substitute for talcum powder thanks to its absorbing and soothing properties. Agor’s facial masks are formulated with tapioca, a starch extracted from cassava root. It acts as a thickening agent: when you mix the mask with water, tapioca helps to create a nice, thick texture. When mixed with water, starch provides a lifting effect and helps to smooth out fine lines. It also has a slight whitening effect and helps to improve complexion.
Pectin is a structural polysaccharide contained in the primary cell walls of terrestrial plants. Commercially produced pectin is mainly extracted from citrus fruits, it is used as a gelling agent, thickening agent and stabilizer. In cosmetic products, pectin acts as a stabilizer and, just like starch, provides for a nice texture. Due to pectin, Agor polysaccharide masks help to make your skin soft and silky smooth. This ingredient enhances the absorption of useful substances contained in the mask by the epidermis. Pectin also helps to detoxify the skin and tighten pores, provides a cleansing and whitening effect, keeps the skin hydrated.
Agar, also known as agar-agar, is a jelly-like substance obtained from algae. It is derived from the structural polysaccharide agarose contained in the cell walls of certain algae species known as agarophytes. Agar is mainly used in cooking as a natural vegetable gelatine counterpart. In Agor’s facial masks, agar acts as a stabilizer, enhancing the effect of pectin. It provides a slight lifting effect, helps to cleanse pores, makes your skin softer and smoother.
Starch, pectin and agar form the base of Agor polysaccharide facial masks, providing for a good texture as well as some cosmetic effects. The cosmetic effect of polysaccharides is enhanced by natural ingredients such as herbal extracts (skullcap, clover, chamomile, plantain, sage, yarrow, marigold, lemon, grapefruit), soy peptides, and wheat peptides. These ingredients haму a moisturising, lifting, cleansing, soothing and protective effect. Agor offers several polysaccharide masks with different effects: moisturising, lifting, soothing, protective, and whitening. They are suitable for all skin types, one of the masks is specifically designed for sensitive skin.
Polysaccharide masks are very easy to use. All you have to do is mix some powder with warm water and stir well to obtain a homogeneous gel-like substance. Apply the mask onto clean skin and leave it on for about 20 minutes. Polysaccharide masks are not peel-off, so you’ll have to rinse the mask with cool water. One procedures requires to use 1.5 g powder. All masks come in 8 g jars, one jar is designed for 5 procedures. Agor’s polysaccharide masks are affordable and definitely cheaper than salon treatments while the effect is the same!