Femail.com.au – 2013

The Aussie Invention SkinDNA ™ Genetic Test has been so effective that it has now received global attention on the top US program, The Doctors.

Imagine having a blue-print of your skin that tells you exactly what products will work specifically for you? Well a simple Aussie invention using a swab test to identify your skin’s DNA in order to create customisable skincare routines/laser treatments programs for your skin is being hailed as the latest holy grail in scientifically combatting premature ageing and predicting genetic skin dispositions. The test has been so effective that it has now received global attention on the top US program, The Doctors which aired in the US on Monday 8th, October and to air in Australia on Ten on later this year.

SkinDNA ™ is an at-home DNA-based laboratory test which takes the power of our DNA’s unique blueprint to identify the skin’s genetic propensity to five key ageing pathways: Collagen breakdown; Photo aging; Wrinkling; Oxidation; and the skin’s ability to tolerate Environmental pollutants.

Co-creator, Stefan Mazy says: “SkinDNA is revolutionising the way we take care of our skin, this is the future of an industry and the key to combating skin aging before the signs even appear. All this information found inside us buried in our unique DNA blueprint”.

Using a non-intrusive swabbing of the inner cheek, the SkinDNA™ sample is analysed with our proprietary DNA DermXT™ micro-chip technology developed by a worldwide collaboration of scientists. The client’s sample data is used to create a personalised guide that allows them to advance beyond the ‘one-size-fits-all’ suggestions – using the right skincare products targeted to their own genetic blueprint. This custom tailored preventative skincare and health program allows the client to achieve the optimum levels of skin protection and long-term health.

Today heralds a new era in personalised skin care with the launch of SkinDNA ™ – the world’s first comprehensive genetic skin profile test is now available in Australia, USA, Brazil, China, Canada and United Kingdom. According to Dr Sarah Freilich, “SkinDNA is one of the most exciting, eyebrow-raising developments out there in the skin health and skincare arenas”.

Question: What is SkinDNA ™?

Stefan Mazy:
SkinDNA is a DNA based laboratory test which examines sixteen genetic markers that have been associated with skin ageing and this is done from a simple swab.

Question: How does SkinDNA work?

Stefan Mazy:
The purpose of the DNA test is to allow customers to know what to use, for their skin based on what their DNA results tell them. Every one of us is unique and different and even though there are good skin care brands, they’re not designed for everybody. The purpose of the test is to inform customers of their strengths and weaknesses and from that we can let them know the ingredients to be using for their skin. We provide our customers with the tool and the knowledge to shop for their skincare products based on what is right, for them, without trial and error or guess work.

We use science to let you know what to use for your skin.

Question: How did it feel to feature on the show, The Doctors?

Stefan Mazy:
Featuring on The Doctors was a major highlight! We were approached by The Doctors TV show and they wanted to bring us onto the show to talk about the role SkinDNA plays in the aesthetic industry.

They [SkinShift] used our product, and the results were spot on for their case study that had pigmentation issues and suffered from sun sensitivity; our case study had tried everything on the market and her skin was getting worse and our results showed that she was incredibly sensitive to certain perfume products and some chemicals. We were able to put the case study onto the right ingredients that work for her to calm down the skin and address the pigmentation issues whilst controlling them from reappearing in the future.

Question: Do you produce products also?

Stefan Mazy:
SkinDNA ™ is an unbiased tool; we do not push any particular products as we are simply an educational tool to allow customers to use the right skincare for their skin. I have been in the industry for many years and I know that all the skincare products are on the market already, which is why we developed this tool to allow customers to still use their favourite brands but to know exactly what product, from the range, is going to be the most effective, for them and provide the best long term results.

Question: What inspired the creation of SkinDNA?

Stefan Mazy:
I have been in this industry from a very young age and throughout my life I have been surrounded by doctors in the medical and aesthetic world who would teach me about the science of this industry. For me, it has never been about beauty but I love knowing how things work and throughout the past few years my job has been to interact with customers to inform them on what is right for their skin and tell them the science behind why certain products work as well as supplements and other topical ingredients.

Throughout my career the one underlying factor was that customers would tell me daily that they had used all these products but there skin was still incredibly dry or sensitive or otherwise and they didn’t know what to do. This passion led me on the journey to find out what else was out there which in turn started a research project in 2006. We conducted a lot of research to find any links or correlations that may play a role in skin ageing and three years on we had enough data to have our program validated and supported which allowed us to turn it into a consumer DNA test.

SkinDNA is a very scientific test and we’ve been fortunate enough to work with customers throughout the development of the product to make it perfect. Every single customer we have worked with has had a positive result as they have noticed an improvement; those who are younger have noticed an improvement in the preventative sense.

We are working worldwide with the product including shows in America and working in Hong Kong as well as recently receiving an innovation award in Hong Kong. The reason SkinDNA is doing so well is purely because of the fact that we are not pushing products and have taken a completely different approach.

My philosophy is about learning, it has never been about money. I enjoy empowering a customer to know what to put on their skin and giving them the control to know what ingredients to use. I want to educate and help people worldwide through a simple DNA test.

Vogue talks about DNArray

VOGUE TV 2018

MiNDFOOD 2014

Instead of stashing and trashing products for your imagined skincare ailments, consider tailoring those formulas to your genetic needs.

Wrinkling. Sagging. Sun Damage. What to worry about first?

Take the guesswork out of buying skincare by discovering your dermal strengths and weaknesses with SkinDNA ™ Genetic Test. Take the swab from the inside of your cheek and send it to the labs. They will send you back a detailed report on your own genetic blueprint in reference to the five key aging pathways: collagen breakdown, photo aging, wrinkling, oxidation and the skin’s ability to tolerate environmental pollutants.

Nicky Briger – Editor of Marie Claire talks about DNArray

Marie Claire 2018

Beauty Bender – 2014

Powered by SkinDNA Technology

Instead of stashing and trashing products for your imagined skincare ailments, consider tailoring those formulas to your genetic needs.

Sure, it’s easy to blame the condition of our complexions on outside factors: cold, dry weather; sleep deprivation; too much humidity; stress or product sensitivity, to name a few. But these scapegoats aren’t always to blame. In reality, “our DNA determines virtually everything related to our skin’s health and beauty,” says Dr. Ruthie Harper, who practices personalized integrative medicine in Austin, Texas. Quite simply, the sooner we’re able to understand what our genes have predetermined in terms of our skin, the sooner we can deal with it effectively.

One’s DNA is unique only to them, but the genes that make it up are passed down from generation to generation. And while siblings can share similar skin factors, sometimes they’re very different in both health and appearance, according to Dr. Harper. “This is similar to siblings from the same parents having straight versus curly hair or brown eyes versus green eyes,” she adds. The M.D., who founded DNA-based skincare and supplement line SkinShift, is a proponent of genetic testing (which she offers through her line) to determine one’s skin’s strengths and weaknesses, something which essentially provides a reading of what ingredients and types of products to focus on. “Ultimately by knowing your skin’s genetics you can spend less on skincare and get better results,” she says.

Dr. Harper analyzes DNA—gathered from a cheek swab kit clients can request and send in—looking for five factors, all of which she claims are equally important “since they all target different factors that influence the skin’s health and beauty.” The categories are rated low, medium or high risk so one can determine which need to be top priority product-wise. Collagen formation (important in keeping skin plump and wrinkle-free), sun protection (how well it protects against UV damage), antioxidant protection (the amount it wards off free-radical oxidation), glycation protection (a process that accelerates aging) and inflammation control (the ability to ward off bacteria and chemicals) vary between zero and one. Once those genetic baselines are set, product and ingredient recommendations come into play.

Though Dr. Harper of course focuses her SkinShift products to the precise factors she tests, the understanding is also that her report will help any consumer better shop for products—whether at the drugstore, online or a specialty beauty shop. “When looking at the product recommendations that are part of your SkinShift report, the focus ingredients and their impact on a specific category are listed.” For example, vitamin C is key for improving collagen formation. She’s also a big proponent of supplements, which “feed our skin from the inside out.” At the end of the day, however, Dr. Harper stresses the importance of knowing what one’s skin needs. “If you’re low risk it means your body is functioning optimally in that category for skin health,” says the doctor, so “your beauty dollars would be more wisely spent addressing medium- and high-risk categories.” Essentially, this method removes trial and error with costly formulas. “We all have a budget as well as a threshold for the number of products we want to use each day, [thus] it’s important to pick our products wisely.”

Tired of spending money on beauty products that don’t work? Dr Ruthie Harper talks about SkinShift, science-based skincare using SkinDNA ™ Technology.

CBS The Doctors 2013

Prevention Magazine – 2014

Powered by SkinDNA Technology

A new company allowing you to swab your cheek, send off your DNA for analysis, and get back a report detailing your skin’s potential pitfalls—allowing you to personalize your approach to skin care.

Trying a new anti-aging cream can be a little like peering into a cloudy Magic 8 Ball: “Outlook unclear. Try again.” Yet most of us dutifully apply anything we think may help keep our skin younger looking, from antioxidants and sunscreen to Retin-A and glycolic acids. We’re swayed by promises of a skin-transforming miracle until, our bathrooms littered with jars, tubes, and bottles, we barely even remember what we’re putting on our faces, much less why.

But buying products and hoping for the best may soon be passe. New companies are launching services that allow you to swab your cheek, send off your DNA for analysis, and get back a report detailing your skin’s potential pitfalls—allowing you to completely personalize your approach to skin care. Find out you’re at high risk of skin cancer, for example, and you could load your regimen with sunscreen and antioxidants to help prevent free radical damage, thereby decreasing your risk of skin cancer. If the test shows that your genes leave you more vulnerable to collagen degradation, you might switch to a Retin-A cream at night to help ward off premature sagging and wrinkles. It sounds almost too good to be true—so is it?

The Basics

Ever since the human genome was mapped in 2003, researchers have been busy uncovering ways in which we can benefit from this new knowledge. And outside of doctors’ offices and researchers’ labs, consumers are getting into the act by taking at-home tests, like the ones from the popular 23andMe, that look at all or part of one’s genome and reveal any variations.

We each have 23 pairs of chromosomes. Each chromosome holds packages of DNA, which contains genes passed down from your parents and holds potential keys to everything from your hair color to your risks of certain illnesses. Within the DNA are many types of genetic variants, including one called single nucleotide polymorphisms. There are about 10 million SNPs in the human genome, and some have been found to predict risks of diseases or have a regulatory effect on a gene’s function. So by swabbing your cheek, you can—theoretically, anyway—find out what the future holds for your skin.

One company, SkinShift, [who uses the SkinDNA technology] analyzes 16 SNPs, according to Ruthie Harper, MD, those SNPs pertain specifically to five skin-health factors: collagen formation, sun protection, glycation protection, antioxidant protection, and inflammation control. “These SNPs are well established, and by analyzing them, we can tell you if you are at high, medium, or low risk of each,” says Dr. Harper. Then, based on your results, the theory goes, the tester can tell you what targeted ingredients and products to use.

What the Research Says

Even though numerous strides have been made in the decade since the human genome was first sequenced, the field remains a work in progress. “We have already learned that specific genes are responsible for certain skin issues,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. “And countless numbers of potential gene mutations are being studied to better understand these diseases and help explain other conditions, like acne and skin aging.” These so-called susceptibility variants are still being studied and identified.

Police use DNA to solve crimes. Doctors use it to find out if patients are predisposed to diseases. What if you could use DNA to look younger? using SkinDNA ™ Technology.

Fox 45 2014

Fashion Pulse Daily – 2014

Powered by SkinDNA Technology

Nowadays, there’s so much technology can reveal to us, such as an innovative DNA analysis to discover your skin’s individual strengths and weaknesses, even if they haven’t even surfaced yet!

It’s a bit of a strange feeling when you have the revelation that the future IS here. Nowadays, there’s so much technology can reveal to us, such as an innovative DNA analysis to discover your skin’s individual strengths and weaknesses, even if they haven’t even surfaced yet! By taking the test of rubbing a stick on the inside of your cheek, Dr. Ruthie Harper of SKINSHIFT will analyze the results and a customized skincare and nutritional routine will be created for you. Wondering what my results were? Here you go!

Being super pale, it made sense to me that I was at a high risk when it came to the sun protection factor, and that my glycation protection factor was also high (relates to wrinkling, drying, laxity and sagging due to increased production of free radicals and decreased skin elasticity; it’s how well your skin processes sugar), however, I was surprised to discover that I was at a high risk also under the inflammation control factor. It was nice to get some one-on-one face time with Dr. Harper, as we discussed that it could be linked to a genetic auto-immune disease I have that causes inflammation, which totally made sense in the spectrum of everything in the body being related and it possibly effecting skin, as it is our body’s largest organ!

With this knowledge, what now?

Besides the fact that beauty and science is pretty darn cool, it’s really a unique opportunity to be able to treat and protect your skin preventively from future damage. My recommendations included both skincare and supplements, which combine concentrated, natural ingredients that are also free from fragrance, color, mineral oil, and parabens that could be harmful, irritating, or cause an allergic reaction.

Knowing that everyone’s budgets and beauty routines vary, I found it helpful that my skin report included my product recommendations ranked in importance, so that if I were to pick up or use only one or two items, I know which ones to strategically select. My products included the antioxidant cleanser, balancing toner, antioxidant moisturizer, calming treatment serum, vitamin C treatment serum, and sun, glycation, and inflammation defense supplements.

As I feel like I’ve seen and experienced the full spectrum of beauty products and technology in my field, it’s refreshing to encounter such a different way of approaching skincare from a trusted source.

GQ Magazine – 2013

The future looks bright as SkinDNA technology brings new life to your daily regime.

Sure, DNA can absolve the innocent and unlock evolution’s mysteries, plus who wouldn’t want one of those model genomes on their bookcase? But what has DNA done for you lately? Once reserved for dubious advertisements, such technology can now determine the ultimate grooming regime. The SkinDNA company touts its service – the only of its kind in Australia – as “the most advanced skin diagnostic test available” and, as we discover, it mostly lives up to the hype.

What’s involved?

The first thing you are instructed to do is swab your mouth with what looks like a large toothbrush without bristles, before sending the sample off with a rather specific questionnaire about your hereditary background (I was able to check off “Ashkenazi Jew” for the first time in more than three decades of filling out forms).

What do you get back?

Two weeks later, the results arrive back from an American lab. These take the form of a detailed, seven-page report covering your skin’s “firmness and elasticity”, “wrinkling”,
“Sun damage” and “pigmentation”. It also covers damage by free radicals – groups of atoms with an unpaired number of electrons that form when certain molecules interact with oxygen. Not with us? Well, you know those guys at the bar spoiling for a fight? Those are free radicals, their prize is electrons and they damage healthy cells, resulting in sallow skin and a dull complexion (among a host of other body issues). The final truths this report uncovers is sensitivity to everyday pollutants – car fumes, chlorine and cigarettes – which play out in the form of redness or irritation.

Is it worth it?

As you’d expect for a service that starts at $189, you’re presented with a serious wad of details about each condition. But all you need to know is this: if dealing with wrinkles, for example, you’ll find out how you scored compared to the rest of the population, and what causes the lines and visible effects. The money shot lies in the “prescription” section of each page. These recommendations detail the topical ingredients and nutritional supplements you’ll need to help prevent further damage.

While the report doesn’t deliver specific lotions and potions (rather, it highlights the ingredients you need to be on the look out for), SkinDNA co-creator Stefan Mazy is happy to point customers in the direction of the readily available brands, which contains such players as biopeptides, whey proteins, retinol, resveratrol, coenzyme Q10 and carotenoid supplements. Says Sydney dermatologist Dr Elizabeth Dawes-Higgs: “While these analyses can provide a heightened level of detail, they are no substitute for a consultation with a dermatologist who can assess the bigger picture.

It’s also important to remember that no skin cream can alter your genetics, it merely works alongside your specific profile.” True, although certain skin conditions respond better to specific ingredients and, at the very least, a DNA test acts as a strong matchmaker between the two. It also represents a level of diagnosis once reserved for clinicians – real ones.