Perrigo and Sebamed Highlight the Importance of Skin pH Balance and Probiotics

We conducted an enjoyable interview with Selver Yıldız Küçükkoyuncu, Marketing Director of Perrigo, about Perrigo and Sebamed. Küçükkoyuncu discussed the important effects of pH value and probiotics on healthy skin.

Could you tell our readers about yourself and your professional background?

I was born in Istanbul in 1982. I graduated from Boğaziçi University's Economics Department in 2005. After graduation, I decided to continue my career in the Marketing Department, where I feel happiest and where I believe I am constantly developing and staying current. I have been working with pleasure for 16 years at my brands, and for 8 years I have been the mother of the sweetest Mina. I enjoy traveling with my spouse, listening to music, singing, and having meaningful conversations with my family and friends. [caption id="attachment_126050" align="aligncenter"] Selver Yıldız Küçükkoyuncu[/caption]

Could you share Sebamed's success story with us?

Developed at German Sebapharma Laboratories, Sebamed offers skincare products that cleanse and nourish the skin at pH 5.5, the value healthy skin possesses. Sebamed, whose high efficacy and skin compatibility have been proven through more than 120 scientific tests, has been operating in Turkey under Perrigo Turkey since 2015.   Following its successes in the Sebamed Baby and sun care categories, Sebamed won the Best Dermocosmeticeutical Product Award with the launch of the probiotic-enriched Sebamed PRO facial care line in 2019, and subsequently continued this success by winning the Best Shampoo Award. Sebamed, which has baby, sun, face, hair and body care products in its portfolio and is one of the world's leading dermocosmeticeutical brands, is the first trusted brand that comes to mind when dermocosmeticeuticals are mentioned in Turkey. Could you tell us about your product varieties? As Perrigo, we are one of the world's leading personal care and health products companies. We have a wide range of products operating in many areas. We operate in many areas needed in daily life, from dermocosmeticeuticals to lice treatment, from weight control to foot and hand health, from deodorants to depilation, from pregnancy tests to blood pressure monitors. Our brands, each of which holds a leading position in its field and are part of our company, are as follows: Sebamed, Bio-Oil, Paranit, Predictor, XL-S, Vectavir, Gvyna, Deotak, Depitak, Altermed, Wartner and Omron.

What is the importance of pH value for healthy skin? In this context, how would you evaluate the motto "Healthy Skin Has a Number One"?

The pH value of healthy skin should be in the range of 5 to 5.5. Skin at these values has a healthy barrier. A healthy skin barrier means the skin can protect itself against external factors such as allergies, eczema, infections, dryness and itching. When clinical and dermatological tests have not been conducted and unnatural products are used, our skin barrier's pH value changes instantly. Even a soap we use to wash our hands or just water can change the skin's natural pH value of 5.5. When the pH of the skin barrier is disrupted, problems such as dryness, cracking and redness can appear on the skin. On this matter, experts say that long-term use of such high pH products can have lasting effects on sensitive skin. The motto "Healthy Skin Has a Number One" expresses exactly this situation. In all the products we produce, we are careful to maintain pH 5.5, which is the skin's ideal value—namely, the skin's protective layer.

In addition to the known benefits of probiotics, their effect on skin health is an undeniable fact. What kind of work is Sebamed pursuing on this point?

Probiotics are a food source known for their positive effects on general health and the digestive system. Its ability to increase and strengthen the body's resistance is also quite important for skin. Probiotics fight viruses that come into contact with the skin due to environmental factors, and by balancing the microflora, they prevent irritations from occurring. Research on this subject shows that when probiotics are regularly applied to the skin, they serve as a shield against free radicals. They also prevent premature aging signs resulting from external factors and support collagen and elastin production. With our Sebamed brand, we benefit from the miracle of probiotics in our products with the awareness of their benefits to skin health. SebamedPRO products developed at Sebapharma Laboratories contain the innovative probiotic care complex ProRenew Complex CLR™ in their formulation. Sebamed PRO Renewal Cream, with the power of the rich L-Fucose complex derived from red seaweed and probiotics, helps renewal of the skin and reduces the appearance of visible wrinkles. Sebamed PRO Active Protection Cream, which provides effective anti-aging protection, supports skin renewal through its Celligent® complex containing rosemary extract, while Sebamed PRO Energy Cream reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines through its Gatuline® RC complex containing birch seed. Our probiotic-containing products are not just that many. Sebamed PRO Revitalizing Serum revitalizes the skin with its CellPulse NC04™ complex containing coffee extract; Sebamed PRO Moisture Serum with its active Meiritage® content inspired by medicinal plants used in traditional Chinese medicine; Sebamed PRO Revitalizing Eye Cream with its rich care complex containing sea algae; Sebamed PRO Intensive Care Serum rejuvenates the skin by preserving its moisture balance through Alpinia Galanga obtained from Thai ginger plant in its formulation.

Could you provide information about the most recently launched product? What are its characteristics?

As the most recently launched product, I can mention Bio-Oil Natural. As you know, our Bio-Oil brand is one of the leading brands in the world in stretch mark care. Bio-Oil Natural, the new product of this brand, offers a solution especially for expectant mothers seeking natural and effective care products during pregnancy. The product, which stands out with its 100% natural and organic composition, brings together the nature's self-renewal power with our skin. With 14 botanical oils such as soybean oil, safflower seed oil, jojoba, sea buckthorn oil, calendula extract, chia seed oil, pomegranate flower oil, lavender oil, natural antioxidants, plant extracts and vitamins in its formulation, it is a care product whose effectiveness on stretch marks has been clinically proven. When applied by massaging twice daily on areas prone to stretch mark formation such as the abdomen, chest, waist, hips and thighs, it prevents stretch mark formation and reduces the appearance of existing stretch marks. Bio-Oil Natural, which stands out not only for being natural but also for being a vegan product, has been proven through clinical studies to help visibly reduce the appearance of stretch marks in 8 weeks.

Could you mention the precautions you have taken while producing for a sustainable world?

As Perrigo, while meeting consumer needs, we also attach importance to sustainability. Along with our commitment to providing accessible, high-quality, healthy personal care products for our consumers, we always prioritize being a good global citizen. By producing with consideration for people and our world, we maintain our financial performance balance, prioritize efficiency, and manage our operations by setting targets and standards that minimize our environmental impact.

Do you have any new products and technologies you plan to introduce to the sector in the coming periods?

In every new product we develop, we prioritize the needs of our consumers. Our consumer-centric brands and new brands and categories suited to changing consumer expectations and agendas will continue to remain on Perrigo's agenda in the coming days. To keep our finger on the pulse of the consumer, we conduct numerous consumer research studies both globally and locally. As a result of this research, we are preparing to present you with our new launches very soon.