Wow, you look amazing at 70 !
Both pictures look great, first has you wearing glasses - that’s automatically added 10 years 
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Topically?
Injections - it’s a facial filler.
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How difficult are these facial injections to self-administer?
Should not be self administered.
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Pentagalloyl glucose (PGG), a polyphenolic molecule with high affinity for elastin hydrophobic domains, binds non-covalently to exposed elastin, shielding cleavage-prone motifs, reducing water ingress into hydrophobic repeats, and sterically limiting protease access [147]. In multiple AAA models, PGG has preserved elastic lamellae, reduced inflammatory infiltration, and slowed or prevented sac expansion. [94,148]. Localized periadventitial delivery of non-cytotoxic PGG early after injury inhibits elastin degeneration and attenuates AAA growth, indicating that targeted wall exposure can modify disease trajectory even without systemic drug levels [94]. Extending this concept, PGG-loaded nanoparticles have been engineered to home to the aneurysmal wall, where controlled release restores degraded elastin ultrastructure, reduces MMP activity, and diminishes leukocyte infiltration. Notably, oral administration of PGG nanoparticles has regressed established elastase-induced AAAs in preclinical studies, suggesting that systemic routes can achieve therapeutically meaningful aortic exposure when coupled with appropriate carriers [149]. Mechanistically, PGG effects likely arise from a triad: (i) direct fiber stabilization which reduces elastase susceptibility, (ii) secondary anti-inflammatory actions, i.e., less Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns release from matrix breakdown due to lower cytokine/MMP induction, and (iii) favorable reparative remodeling by providing a protected scaffold onto which new matrix can organize [117,118,119,120]. While PGG is an example, this “elastin-tanning” principle may extend to other elastin-binding polyphenols, tailoring small molecules with improved pharmacokinetics and tissue selectivity.
In a career that has spanned 30 years, Dr. Vyavahare’s research has been focused on elastin, a rubber band-like protein dominant in the the tissues of our lungs, arteries and skin that allows these organs to expand and retract. The body’s ability to repair elastin diminishes with age and the loss of elastin is accelerated by oxidation, inflammation and pollutants that cause tissues to lose elasticity. Through his research, Dr. Vyavahare discovered that a specific antioxidant called PGG would bind to elastin and support its maintenence. Taking it a step further, he paired the PGG with a novel micro-hyaluronic delivery system which would allow cells to support new elastic fiber and strengthen the tissue. The discovery has been patented and is now being used to repair lung tissue in patients with COPD, restore damaged arteries and repair damaged skin.
Have any of you had a chance to try it?
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I find the concept of this type of product interesting, though I’m sure this specific line of products will be horribly over-priced. There seems to be reasonably scientific backing on the efficacy of Urolithin A (though the cost/effectiveness is the primary issue for me).
Perhaps an opportunity for biohacking; create a simple topical formulation with low cost Urolithin A powder from China (its topical use so I’m less concerned about contaminants than if I was orally using it)… ?
Lancôme to launch longevity skin care range powered by mitochondria-rejuvenating Mitopure
Lancôme, the L’Oréal-owned luxury brand, is aiming to further secure its position as a leader in the longevity beauty game through the launch of a new skin care range.
The yet-to-be-named collection is centred on Swiss biotech firm Timeline’s Mitopure technology, a proprietary molecule backed by more than US$50m in R&D and 15 years of research.
The ingredient is a highly pure form of Urolithin A, a postbiotic that is said to be clinically proven to re-energise mitochondria – the powerhouses of the cell – through a cellular renewal process known as mitophagy – the removal of damaged mitochondria.
It marks L’Oréal Groupe’s first consumer launch with Timeline, following the French beauty giant’s investment in the firm in 2024 through a CHF56 million Series D funding round.
The range will be revealed and launched at the annual American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) convention in Denver, Colorado, from 27 - 29 March 2026.
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My Google Gemini Prompt:
Role: Cosmetic Chemist or Formulation Chemist,
Task: Evaluate the chemical and pharmacologic characteristics of Urolithin-A powder, and identify a reasonable formulation for a topical skin care product that a biohacker could reasonably create from purchased reagents and supplies
Gemini Response:
I received an email from Timeline yesterday talking about their new UA serum… it exists now.
Fwiw, 100g of UA powder at Aeternum Is $144.
In addition to that one, yesterday, Sephora sent me an email about Tatcha’s longevity serums… *insert world’s biggest eyeroll (Unlike timeline, this is just any ol’ serum with a longevity label).
Do please come up with a formula I can copy for this idea with the addition of rapa powder. 
Maybe we can add both to minoxidil for scalps too ?
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Of all the skin-care and cosmetics products I recently bought online that turned out to be counterfeit, expired, used, or otherwise problematic, the one that still makes me squirm is a curiously distended tube of lip gloss.
I’d purchased it from a third-party seller on Amazon because I wanted to find out how, or if, someone could really know that the popular beauty product they bought on the internet was the real thing.
I’d also ordered a second tube of the same product — Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment, one of Wirecutter’s lip gloss picks — from the brand’s official website, Rhode Skin. This latter purchase was my control group, my straight-from-the-source version, my real thing.
From the jump, I found inconsistencies between the two.
The tube that arrived from Amazon was about a quarter-inch longer and a slightly different shade than the one I bought from Rhode. In several places, the labeling wasn’t a word-for-word match; plus, that text had been printed with two different-colored inks. The Amazon version also felt lighter, even though it was the bigger tube, making me wonder if I’d actually received the full 10 milliliters indicated on the label.
And then there was the bloating.
The tube from Amazon appeared slightly puffy and inflated next to the one from Rhode. That discrepancy wasn’t as obvious as the others; in fact, I’m not sure I would have noticed the bloating on my own. But I was working with a cosmetic chemist — Rachel Johnson, founder and chief chemist at The Charismatic Chemist, a cosmetic research and development lab in New Jersey — to compare and analyze my makeup and skin-care purchases, and once she pointed it out, I couldn’t not see it.
“That could suggest microbial growth,” Johnson told me, “or that the formula might be reacting to the packaging.”
Ew.
A few minutes later, Johnson confirmed that the chemical compositions of the two lip treatments were off by a significant amount: a 20% difference between them, according to a spectrometer analysis.
You buried the lead
“ Over the past two decades, fake personal-care products have been found to contain ingredients like antifreeze (in counterfeit toothpaste as a sweetener, I’m sorry to tell you) and urine (to give a fake fragrance a golden hue, I’m even more sorry to say).”
I believe this because I still have PTSD from a 60 minutes segment decades ago that showed how many of the pharmaceuticals, even ones in mainstream drugstores, are fake… yellow road paint used as coloring, etc.
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I had a fake adapalene product sent to me over ebay once.
I pretty much never use third party sellers… I try to avoid amazon because I doubt they store anything properly, but I do feel comfortable if it’s from the xyz store.
Having said that, because there is no other option, I do use third party sellers to buy hair color on eBay… and each and every time I’m halfway expecting my hair to fall out.
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I find ebay decent, but I don’t trust Amazon for anything that I need to consume.
Yeah, I remember learning Bezos had to be bullied by the board to giveworkers in the warehouses a/c so they could stop passing out… I said if he will happily bake humans, what is he willing to do to my mascara
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Very grateful I don’t work in such hellish conditions 
I see some people on this website buying from these bizarre unheard of brands only available on Amazon and I worry about it.
“Deal Supplement :D” and “Neviss”
Sure they’re cheap, but they are whitelabelled products from Alibaba (Chinese marketplace), marked up 10-30x and bulk shipped to the Amazon warehouses. No validation if they’re legitimate.
I also have worked with Amazon before selling products on their website. Literally 95% of reviews are fake. People pay for reviews, or swap for reviews. There are websites people sign up for specifically to swap review with each other to game the terms of service, Amazon is aware of it and they don’t care.
I don’t work with them anymore and will never again, they are a terrible company with no morals.
I do urge people to check out iHerb as they’re a fairly reputable company that only stocks legitimate products from decent brands, and they’re as affordable as Amazon most of the time. Sometimes even cheaper.
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I’ll second all of that… and will pile on your iHerb (and vitacost) recommendations. They sell fresh product. I trust them and have been using them forever. They have great sales all the time… and if there is ever an issue, their customer service is a dream to work with.
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Totally agree. Buying supplements on Amazon or eBay is crazy IMO.
iHerb should be fine, and their own-brand (California Gold) has lab testing.
Related to skin ageing, I’ve been using OneSkin for about 3 months now. I would say it does help to reduce fine lines, and it happens fairly quickly (within the first month), and doesn’t do much after that. The cream itself is quite nice - light, doesn’t smell of anything, and doesn’t leave any sort of texture so you can easily put sunscreen etc on after. My skin tolerated it extremely well, even around the eyes. It didn’t do anything for my skin pigmentation or texture though.
I’ve simplified my routine now to:
Morning: cleanse, OneSkin, 10% niacinamide, sunscreen
Night: cleanse, cleanse, 10% niacinamide, OneSkin
I put a small amount of salicylic acid on my nose for enlarged pores and blackheads
3 nights per week I use Azelaic acid
Every day I use an iRestore LED face mask for 20 minutes
For now I’ve dropped retinoids because I was getting some eye dryness and irritation, and I can’t totally rule out retinoids as the cause. I’m going to switch to Adapalene I think, which is less irritating.
I’ve also dropped vitamin C serums because I haven’t really observed any effect from them aside from making me look yellow!
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I never use heavy facial creams on my skin, instead I apply home made toners all based on Centella and low molecular weight HA (Korean Toner) with added Hesperidine, Niacinamid, NMN. They get absorbed immediately. Do it several times a day. I also use rapamycin cream 2-3 times a week. In addition, do mesotherapy with HA once a month. In the result my skin practically doesn’t age.
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