By Dr. Alessia Costantini, Researcher at UNIRED.
What our skin feels when we apply a product as fascinating as Liftable Overnight is the result of the interaction between many ingredients that make up the carrier. In technical terms, we refer to the “vehicle” or “carrier” as the combination of hydrophilic and lipophilic molecules that support and transport active ingredients through the epidermal layers.
In the case of this nighttime cream, we observed the formula under a microscope, and the resulting image is not only visually captivating but also reveals the unique sensorial profile of the product.
We used our optical microscope with a lens that magnifies the object 400 times and connects to software that processes the image. The samples are prepared by spreading a minimal amount of the product on a standard glass slide, forming a film as thin as possible to ensure a homogeneous view.
The image of Liftable Overnight confirms the uniqueness of its carrier—very different from the morphology of classic “night creams”: the water droplets trapped within vary in size from 1 to 10 microns and are organized into clearly separated clusters, thanks to the elasticity of the interfacial film that keeps the microdroplets apart.
Their variable size explains the evolving sensory experience during application: the formula’s initial lightness and ease of spreading gradually give way to the emollience and elasticity of the outer oily phase, which envelops both the droplets and the skin.
Does Liftable Overnight look like a starry sky under the microscope? We’ll leave that answer to the creatives… To us technicians, it appears as a beautiful composition—not easily achieved with standard cosmetic technology. Kudos to the colleagues who managed to stabilize such an original carrier and create a formula capable of supporting high-performance active ingredients.
Dr. Alessia Costantini
Researcher at UNIRED