New Botanical Ingredient Promises Glass Skin with Smaller Pores

The glass skin trend continues to shape beauty routines, with consumers seeking smooth, pore-free and radiant complexions. Provital has now developed a new botanical ingredient to address this demand, targeting the refinement of pores for a flawless finish. Affipore is a natural active ingredient derived from the leaves of Barosma betulina. Provital worked with the Khoi and San indigenous peoples in South Africa to source the plant, following the Nagoya Protocol’s access and benefit-sharing principles.

The ingredient works by inhibiting aminopeptidase N (APN) in the sebocyte membrane, which helps regulate sebum production and control pore size. In tests involving 20 Caucasian women aged 35 to 70, Affipore reduced the number of pores by up to 24% and their diameter and volume by up to 20%.

As a fully botanical solution, Affipore aligns with the growing preference for natural skincare. In Brazil, 41% of adults already believe natural ingredients are safer for their skin. The glass skin look, inspired by K-beauty, prioritises purity and clarity, often linked with clean, natural formulations. Affipore offers brands a way to create clean beauty products that deliver visible results. Its ability to refine pores supports the glass skin trend’s focus on smoothness and radiance. The ingredient’s natural origin and tested efficacy make it a strong contender in the skincare market.