Violacein: a selective active for blemish-prone skin
Violacein is a violet pigment produced by certain bacteria. In the rainforest it acts as a selective shield, for example on the skin of tropical amphibians. Amazia™ translates this natural defence into a cosmetic active for blemish-prone skin.
From the rainforest to the laboratory
The violacein in Amazia™ is produced by a wild-type, non-genetically modified strain that researchers isolated from the rainforest. Instead of harvesting from nature, the strain is reproduced in laboratories in Italy by precision fermentation. The violacein is then harvested by natural extraction and purified by fine microfiltration. This approach, called beauty bioprospecting, uses biodiversity as a source of innovation while protecting it.
How violacein works in the skin
- Selective: it inhibits C. acnes, S. aureus and S. hominis at low concentrations while sparing beneficial strains such as L. plantarum and L. casei.
- Calming: in keratinocytes, Amazia™ reduced the inflammatory mediator TNF-alpha by 38%.
- Cell renewal: Amazia™ stimulated autophagy, the cell’s own recycling process, by 14% in vitro.
Clinical results
In a 28-day half-face study with 20 volunteers with oily, acne-prone skin, a cream with 2% Amazia™ reduced blemishes by 30% compared with placebo. 55% of the volunteers showed an improvement in redness, and 85% reported an improvement in skin imperfections.
Formulating with Amazia™
Amazia™ is used at 0.2 to 2%, is soluble in glycols and dispersible in water. At higher use levels its violet tint becomes visible, which many brands embrace as a signature. It is COSMOS approved, natural origin index 1 under ISO 16128, vegan and biodegradable.
Want to evaluate Amazia™ in your own formulation? Visit the Amazia™ ingredient page, request a sample kit or contact our technical team.
