Science- and Results-Driven Plant Biotech Skincare.

Originally, the scientists aimed to create a replica of human growth factors for medical purposes, but as is often the case in start-ups, the original idea became something completely different - it became a groundbreaking skincare innovation.

Sigrún Dögg Guðjónsdóttir, Chief R&D Officer at BIOEFFECT, and her team are responsible for realizing the company’s vision by developing results-driven, age-defying skincare at the forefront of the industry. “Human growth factors play a significant role in skin health and rejuvenation. Growth factors are naturally occurring proteins that stimulate the production of new cells, collagen and elastin, which are crucial for maintaining the skin’s structure and resilience. Growth factors help repair damaged skin and improve overall skin texture and health. By boosting collagen and elastin production, growth factors help restore the skin’s elasticity, making it firmer and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles” Sigrún Dögg explains.

Sigrun Dögg says, “EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor) is one of these signaling proteins naturally found in our skin. When we are born, we have a lot of EGF in our skin – which is why children´s cheeks are so plump. However, EGF diminishes as we age, and after the age of twenty, skin aging has already begun. The decline becomes even more rapid during menopause. BIOEFFECT’s EGF is intended to slow down this process and even reverse some of the signs of aging.”

Sigrún Dögg Guðjónsdóttir assumed the role of Chief R&D Officer at BIOEFFECT in 2022 when she decided to move back home to Iceland from Denmark. “I began my professional life as a biochemist and later studied medicine. I lived in Copenhagen for 20 years, working as a medical doctor in Denmark, mainly as a dermatologist at Herlev Hospital and in Odense.” Subsequently, Sigrún transitioned into the pharmaceutical sector, first with LEO Pharma and later with Novo Nordisk. “There, I worked as a medical doctor, designing research and developing new drugs, including treatments for skin diseases, before I decided to join BIOEFFECT.”

Sigrún says BIOEFFECT particularly intrigued her as a skincare brand because of its scientific foundation. “The products are based on science and efficiency, and they genuinely work. Of course, this is what makes my work at BIOEFFECT so interesting. Using cutting-edge biotechnology, we create highly effective products, ensuring that the ingredients, formulas, and formulations we bring to market are proven to work. We are conscious of which ingredients can be combined so that the main active ingredients, the growth factors, deliver the best results and remain active and stable in the formulas.”

According to Sigrún Dögg, BIOEFFECT’s exclusivity lies in its unique use of plant-biotech EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor) in its formulations, where the growth factors are cultivated in barley plants, grown in a greenhouse in Iceland using geothermal energy. BIOEFFECT’s ingredients are few, with the focus always on the growth factors and other active ingredients. Barley protein is also included when the growth factor is purified, offering beneficial effects on both the formula and the skin itself. “Years of research have gone into determining which substances can be combined with the growth factors to maintain their efficacy and stability during the production process.” Icelandic water plays a significant role in the products, as it is pure, clean, and free of heavy minerals that could affect the growth factors. Therefore, there is no need to put the Icelandic water through any chemical processes with additives before it is used in our skincare products.