Su:m37°

Micro-Active line

Sum37° - Micro-Active line

Su:m37°’s “Micro-Active” line (마이크로액티브) is a skincare line designed to address early signs of aging while simultaneously offering soothing relief and protection for sensitised skin.

Disclaimer: I personally translated the majority of facts and contents in this article from original Korean sources, so I kindly ask you to credit my work if you’re planning to use any of the information included in this guide.

Recommended for:

  • Early signs of aging
  • Weak or disrupted skin barrier
  • Dull and rough skin
  • Dehydrated or thinning skin

Main Ingredients

• Tru-Active™

Tru-Active™ is an potent skincare ingredient that has been developed through an extensive fermentation process spanning over 80,000 hours (approximately 10 years) and incorporating 55 different plant extracts. This meticulous process enhances the concentration of 40 essential skin-beneficial components found within these extracts, including Vitamins B1, B3, and B6, as well as AHAs, amino acids, and minerals.

In particular, the prolonged fermentation process has been shown to increase the concentration of these components by 38 times. For example, a comparative analysis with a similar solution made from the same plant ingredients fermented for just one year, reveals that Tru-Active™ contains 60% more Vitamin B1, 2,300% more malonic acid, as well as 3,872% more itaconic acid.

This rich bioactive profile makes Tru-Active™ a potent solution for nourishing the skin, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, refining skin texture, and promoting a radiant complexion.

Tru-Active™ appears in ingredient lists as: Vinegar, Butylene Glycol.

Sum37° - Biopeptide190™

[source: Su:m37°]

• Biopeptide190™

Biopeptide190™ is a polypeptide derived from a particular strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (“Brewer’s yeast”) named KCTC14780BP.

Polypeptides are defined as short chains of amino acids that are connected by peptide bonds, usually consisting of 10 to 100 amino acids. The specific sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide determines its unique characteristics, including its ability to fold into various shapes, which in turn affects its biological activity.

Both Biopeptide190™ and its source strain are protected by a patent in South Korea (Patent No. 10-2532713) and the strain has been officially deposited at the Korea Collection for Type Cultures (KCTC) under the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), with the deposit number KCTC14780BP.

Sum37° - Biopeptide190™

[source: Su:m37°]

identification of the KCTC14780BP strain

Saccharomyces cerevisiae, commonly known as “Brewer’s yeast,” is a species of yeast that has been utilised for centuries in winemaking, baking, and brewing. Through extensive research involving over 190 different microorganisms, in 2021 LG Household & Health Care identified a particular strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that showed great potential for skincare applications due to its exceptional properties.

The strain was initially isolated from a plant fermentation broth that had been fermented for a year and subsequently distinguished from other strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae through genetic sequencing. After analysing approximately 190 different microorganisms, the KCTC14780BP strain was selected due to preliminary tests indicating that it promotes cell activation, collagen synthesis, skin rejuvenation and melanin inhibition far more effectively than other yeast strains. Additionally, the strain exhibited potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, making it a promising ingredient for skincare products designed to promote skin health.

Following its identification, the strain was designated as CF2-0w-22 and officially deposited at the Korea Collection for Type Cultures (KCTC) under the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), with the deposit number KCTC14780BP1.

Sum37° - Biopeptide190™

[source: Su:m37°]

development of Biopeptide190™

To enhance the natural benefits of the strain and create a more effective, targeted skincare solution, LG Household & Health Care developed Biopeptide190™, a polypeptide designed to enhance some specific skin-supporting properties of the KCTC14780BP strain.

  • Cultivation: The development of Biopeptide190™ begins with the cultivation of the KCTC14780BP Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain. The strain is carefully inoculated onto a medium and subjected to shaking incubation at temperatures ranging from 20°C to 40°C for a period of 1 to 200 hours. This shaking action ensures continuous aeration, creating an ideal environment for the Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast to thrive and multiply.
    Saccharomyces cerevisiae is classified as a facultative anaerobe2, meaning it can grow in both the presence (aerobic conditions) and absence (anaerobic conditions) of oxygen. Under aerobic conditions, Saccharomyces cerevisiae primarily undergoes aerobic respiration, using oxygen to produce energy more efficiently, leading to rapid growth and the production of crucial cellular components. However, in the absence of oxygen, it switches to anaerobic fermentation, which is far less efficient in terms of energy production, but allows the yeast to survive and grow.
  • Fermentation: As the yeast reaches the desired population, the process moves into the fermentation phase. During this stage, the environment becomes more anaerobic, with limited oxygen availability. This shift encourages the yeast to switch from aerobic respiration to metabolising and secreting fermentation by-products into the surrounding medium, including beneficial bioactive compounds such as the polypeptides that form the basis of Biopeptide190™.
  • Centrifugation: Once the fermentation reaches the desired stage, the cells are separated from the surrounding medium (the fermentation broth) through centrifugation. During this process, the mixture is spun at high speeds, causing the yeast cells to settle at the bottom while the liquid supernatant, rich in extracellular bioactive compounds, remains on top.
  • Lysis: To ensure that no valuable polypeptides are left behind, the separated yeast cells undergo a lysis process to extract precious intracellular polypeptides that were not secreted during the fermentation process. In biology, “lysis” refers to the breakdown of a cell, resulting in the release of proteins, enzymes, and various intracellular materials into the surrounding environment. In this case, LG Household & Health Care used ultrasonic waves to physically disrupt the yeast cell walls, allowing the intracellular components, including the polypeptides, to be effectively released into the solution (also referred to as supernatant or lysate). This step ensures that both extracellular and intracellular bioactive compounds are available for extraction.
  • Concentration: After ultrasonic lysis, the resulting lysate (which contains both intracellular and extracellular bioactive components) is concentrated. The lysate is concentrated by removing excess liquid, increasing the concentration of the desired polypeptides.
  • Alcohol Precipitation + Centrifugation: To separate the polypeptides from other compounds, the concentrated lysate is subjected to alcohol precipitation. By adding twice the volume of alcohol to the lysate, the polypeptides precipitate out of the solution, forming a distinct fraction that can be purified and collected through centrifugation.

The purified polypeptide fraction obtained through this meticulous process is none other than Biopeptide190™.

benefits of Biopeptide190™

Biopeptide190™ has been shown to provide even greater benefits compared to the KCTC14780BP strain alone, delivering significantly stronger results in key areas such as cell activation, collagen production, and anti-inflammatory action1.

  • Cell Activation: In the context of skin, “cell activation” refers to the process through which skin cells respond to a variety of stimuli and challenges by initiating specific functions that are focused on protection, repair, and the maintenance of overall skin health. In this case, research has shown that Biopeptide190™ enhances cell activation more effectively than the KCTC14780BP strain. Specifically, while the strain produced an increase of 20.15% in cell activation, Biopeptide190™ was reported to increase cell activation by 60.76%. This makes Biopeptide190™ a more effective treatment for promoting skin protection, repair, and overall health.
  • Collagen Synthesis: Biopeptide190™ demonstrated a marginally superior enhancement in collagen synthesis when compared to the KCTC14780BP strain. Specifically, Biopeptide190™ resulted in a 16.99% increase in collagen synthesis, while the strain produced a slightly lower increase of 16.38%.
  • Anti-inflammatory Properties: Biopeptide190™ and the KCTC14780BP strain exhibit similar anti-inflammatory properties. These benefits were evaluated by measuring the suppression of Nitric Oxide (NO), a key marker associated with inflammatory responses, with the strain showing a 37.8% reduction in NO levels, and Biopeptide190™ producing a comparable reduction of 31.3%.
  • Melanin Inhibition: Both Biopeptide190™ and the KCTC14780BP strain exhibit similar melanin-inhibiting properties, making them excellent ingredients for addressing hyperpigmentation and brightening overall complexion. Notably, Biopeptide190™ has shown a 33.7% reduction in melanin levels, while the strain has produced a similar reduction of 34.6%.
  • Skin Barrier Strengthening: Biopeptide190™ has been shown to strengthen the skin’s barrier function by stimulating the production of loricrin, a protein that plays a crucial role in preserving the integrity of the skin barrier. This results in improved protection against external irritants and allergens, making the skin less reactive and more resilient.
  • Antioxidant Properties: Biopeptide190™ demonstrates superior antioxidant activity in comparison to the KCTC14780BP strain, making it especially effective at neutralising free radicals and providing protection against oxidative stress.

These enhanced benefits make Biopeptide190™ an even more targeted and effective anti-aging ingredient compared to the KCTC14780BP strain alone.

Biopeptide190™ appears in ingredient lists as: Water, Butylene Glycol, Saccharomyces Polypeptides.

Products

Click on a product to learn more about its features

Sum37° - Micro-Active Powder Wash

Micro-Active Powder Wash

Sum37° - Micro-Active Toning Water

Micro-Active Toning Water

Sum37° - Micro-Active Repair Serum

Micro-Active Repair Serum

Sum37° - Micro-Active Calming Ampoule

Micro-Active Calming Ampoule

Sum37° - Micro-Active Brightening Ampoule

Micro-Active Brightening Ampoule

Sum37° - Micro-Active Soft Fit Cream

Micro-Active Soft Fit Cream

Sum37° - Micro-Active Sun Serum SPF50+/PA++++

Micro-Active Sun Serum SPF50+/PA++++

Sum37° - Micro-Active Tone-Up Sun SPF50+/PA+++

Micro-Active Tone-Up Sun SPF50+/PA+++

• Recommended order of use

  • Micro-Active Toning Water
  • Secret Essence Advanced Treatment
  • Micro-Active Repair Serum
  • Micro-Active Soft Fit Cream

Shop the line

• International retailers

• South Korean

Make sure to check out the Discount & Coupons page to access exclusive offers for major Korean skincare retailers.

Notes

1. Jeong, H., Kim, M., Lee, H., & Fukushi, M. (2023). Novel Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain and use thereof. Patent No. 10-2532713. South Korea.
2. Rintala, E., Jouhten, P., Toivari, M., Wiebe, M. G., Maaheimo, H., Penttilä, M., & Ruohonen, L. (2011). Transcriptional responses of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to shift from respiratory and respirofermentative to fully fermentative metabolism. Omics : a journal of integrative biology, 15(7-8), 461–476. https://doi.org/10.1089/omi.2010.0082

Source: LG Household & Health Care unless otherwise stated.
Words, Visuals: © 2024 Odile Monod unless otherwise stated.
You may not reproduce the above translation for commercial purposes without the express written consent of the translator.

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