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Exfo-Bamboo
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INTRODUCTION
EXFO-BAMBOO is a solidified silica-containing material from bamboo stems (Bambusa
arundinacea), milled to yield two cosmetic active compounds: one with particle size 200 μm and
the other with particle size 500 μm.
This plant product has been developed as a physical exfoliant agent to accelerate skin
desquamation and therefore improve skin appearance.
DESCRIPTION
SKIN EXFOLIATION
The horny layer is the outermost layer of the skin; besides its
biological barrier function, it is also very important from an
aesthetical point of view. The properties of the horny layer influence
the skin appearance because they involve skin texture, light
reflection and color.
The horny layer continually undergoes natural exfoliation, due to its
cells (corneocytes) renewal. This process maintains the uniformity of
skin properties. However, if the cell turnover is altered of sloweddown, because of aging or environmental aggressions, skin texture
is impaired resulting in roughness and thickening of the horny layer.
Cosmetics solutions are available for this type of problems.
Exfoliation removes dead cells and impurities, regulating the
thickness of the horny layer and enhancing cell oxygenation. The
outcome is smooth, polished, impurities-free and radiant skin.
TYPES OF EXFOLIATION
Exfoliation may be chemical or physical depending on the exfoliant agent. Chemical exfoliation
consists in application of certain substances on the skin, which attack the cell junctions in the
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horny layer through enzymatic mechanisms or acidic pH. Conversely, physical exfoliation is based
on detachment of dead cells through the mechanical action of exfoliant particles on the skin.
Exfoliation can also be classified as face exfoliation or body exfoliation depending on the area
where it is performed.
Face exfoliation is usually mild, for cleaning the skin from impurities and dead cells enhancing the
face appearance. Face exfoliants for men have additional properties such as improving men's skin
tendency to impurities because of larger pores and more abundant sweating, and facilitating
shaving because the hair follicles are more exposed.
Body exfoliation, usually harder, renews the epidermis, enhances its appearance and facilitates
penetration of other cosmetic products such as anti-cellulite and self-tanning products.
EXFO-BAMBOO is a natural plant exfoliant with superficial physical action on the skin, which can
be applied both on the face and the body.
BOTANY AND CHEMISTRY
BAMBOO IN THE NATURE
Bambusa arundinacea (Retz.) Willd = Bambusa bambos (L.) Voss. Bamboo is a member of family
Poaceae (Gramineae), subfamily Bambusoideae. It grows throughout the tropical and subtropical
regions of Asia, especially in humid regions under the influence of Monsoon. These are the fastest
growing plants known (most of varieties grow about 10 cm per day) and may reach 30 meters in
height.
Bamboo is well known by its strong stems,
15-18 cm in diameter, with nodes (figure 1)
every 20-40 cm. The leaves are long,
lanceolate and very flexible. Flowers appear
on inflorescences at the top of the plant.
The hardness and stiffness of bamboo stems
is due to the presence of silica in the
structure
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of
their
fibers.
Under
certain
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circumstances, the nodes secrete a substance, which crystallizes at ambient temperature in a
hard yellowish-white material. This substance is known as tabasheer, tabashir, bamboo-manna or
bamboo silica (figure 2). The reasons underlying silica secretion in bamboo are still not known. It
seems that the plant needs less silica at certain periods so that it secretes the silica excess.
Tabasheer is mainly composed of silicon dioxide (SiO 2), commonly called silica, and water; it also
contains small amounts of sodium silicate (Na2SiO3), potassium dioxide (K2O), calcium dioxide
(CaO) and magnesium dioxide (MgO). Silicon is a chemical element very near to the carbon and is
the second element, after the oxygen, more abundant in the Earth. It is present in small quantities
in all the living beings; in the animals the majority of silicon is in the connective tissue and bones as
well as in the skin, nails and hair. The tabasheer is considered to be the most important natural
source of organic silica.
EXFO-BAMBOO is a plant silica coming from the natural secretion of bamboo.
Figure 1: Node of the bamboo with
Figure 2: Tabasheer
secretion of silica
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TRADITIONAL USE OF BAMBOO
Bamboo is considered a part of life in
Asia. It plays a role in every aspect of life:
art, medicine and daily life, and it is used
as a raw material for building houses,
tools, clothes, kitchenware and musical
instruments. It is also consumed as food
and it’s especially prized as a source of
tabasheer, a good dietary supplement,
which provides organic silica.
Tabasheer is one of the main bambooderived substances used in Ayurveda and
Tibetan medicines. Its properties are:
stimulant,
astringent,
febrifuge,
tonic,
antispasmodic and aphrodisiac.
It is used to treat bronchitis, asthma and
leprosy. An Ayurveda preparation, called Sitopaladi Churna, containing tabasheer, is traditionally
used to treat tuberculosis and as a popular medicine for cold, sore throat, sinusitis and cough.
Formulas containing tabasheer are used in Tibet, to treat lung diseases.
BAMBOO IN COSMETICS
The tabasheer of the bamboo, with its white color and with its medicinal action on the respiratory
system and on the infectious diseases, is perceived as a body oxygenant and purifying substance.
Furthermore, as EXFO-BAMBOO exfoliates the skin, it removes impurities and regulates the
thickness, thus providing better cellular oxygenation and a purified appearance. Skin irregularities
are reduced and the skin appears more radiant.
We present two bamboo cosmetic actives designed for different exfoliation needs:

EXFO-BAMBOO FACE: granulometry 200 µm, designed for mild face exfoliation

EXFO-BAMBOO BODY: granulometry 500 µm, designed for moderate body exfoliation
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The white color of both actives makes them suitable for incorporation to any cosmetic formulation;
they remain solid and their color doesn’t change. Table 1 shows their physicochemical
characteristics.
Density
Granulometry
Particle morphology
Solubility
EXFO-BAMBOO FACE
EXFO-BAMBOO BODY
400-600 g/L
400-600 g/L
≤ 200 µm: ≥ 90%
≤ 500 µm: ≥ 90%
 200 µm: ≤ 10%
 500 µm: ≤ 10%
Geometric irregular
aspect
Geometric irregular aspect
Insoluble in water
Insoluble in water
Table 1. Physicochemical characteristics of EXFO-BAMBOO FACE and EXFO-BAMBOO BODY
The figure 3 shows the aspect of the particles of EXFO-BAMBOO.
Figure 3-Left: Macroscopic aspect of EXFO-BAMBOO BODY; Right: Appearance of EXFO-BAMBOO BODY (X 10)
observed through an optical microscope (Unilux-12, Kyowa)
The above explained EXFO-BAMBOO characteristics make this product suitable for safe and
effective skin exfoliation.
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COSMETIC PROPERTIES AND APPLICATIONS
EXFO-BAMBOO is a novel plant cosmetic ingredient for skin physical exfoliation. The
characteristics of its particles make this product suitable for different face and body care
formulations.
EXFO- BAMBOO FACE meets consumers’ different cosmetic needs on the basis of the following
cosmetic properties:

Young skin (< 20 years old). Major characteristics of this type of skin are: abundant
sebum secretion and desquamation problems, which result in a tendency to acne. EXFOBAMBOO FACE helps restoring normal desquamation and removes fatty impurities
accumulated on the skin. Because of their silica content, the white EXFO-BAMBOO
particles have purifying effects and remove rests of epidermal fatty material.

Adult skin (20-40 years old). Due to daily life activities, the skin is subjected to different
environmental challenges such as urban pollution, closed environments or smoke, which
produce accumulation of impurities on the skin. Additionally, adult skin starts to show
some irregularities due to accumulation of dead cells. EXFO-BAMBOO FACE cleans the
face skin leaving it better oxygenated and purified. Bamboo particles perform a mildly
peeling of the epidermis, removing dead cells accumulations and smoothing the face skin.

Mature skin (> 40 years old). Epidermal aging brings about slowdown of the
desquamation process, which results in skin thickening and roughness. Silicon dioxide
and other mineral salts in bamboo provide constituent components for the skin cells to
recover normal functionality. EXFO-BMABOO FACE helps restoring the normal
physiological rate of dead cells elimination and polishes the skin relief, leaving the skin
smoother and radiant.
Typical facial care formulations are hygiene products, such as gels or creams, and peeling
products, such as face masks.
EXFO-BAMBOO BODY is a physical exfoliant, which adapts to the different needs of the skin and
can be used for the following applications:

Young skin (< 20 years old). Physical activity and sports increase body sweating and
produce an augment of skin impurities. EXFO-BAMBOO BODY removes accumulated
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residues and leaves the skin clean, radiant and oxygenated. Bamboo particles have skin
cleansing and regenerative effects after intense physical activity.

Adult skin (20-40 years old). This type of skin needs specific cosmetic treatments; the use
of moisturizing and anti-cellulite products is rather frequent. By other hand, social aspects
and present-day trends bring about the use of other selective products, such as selftanning products. EXFO-BAMBOO BODY removes skin irregularities and prepares the
skin, so that subsequent cosmetic treatments can act more efficiently. Skin exposition to
bamboo mineral salts is beneficial for complementary cosmetic treatments, like Spa
treatments.

Mature skin (> 40 years old). Much like the face epidermis, body epidermis shows
reduced cell turnover rate, which produces roughness in certain areas such as the
elbows, knees and feet. EXFO-BAMBOO BODY reduces the thickening of the horny
layer, leaving the skin even and smooth. Bamboo – a component of the ancient Ayurveda
medicine because of its stimulatory tonifying properties – helps epidermal metabolism,
thus restoring normal cell renewal.
Typical body care formulations are hygiene products, such as gels or creams, and peeling
products, such as body milk.
RECOMMENDED CONCENTRATION

EXFO-BAMBOO FACE: the recommended dose is between 5.0 and 10.0 %.

EXFO-BAMBOO BODY: the recommended dose is between 5.0 and 10.0 %.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Dransfield, S. & Widjaja, E.A. (Editors), 1995. Plant Resources of South-East Asia No.7.
Bamboos.Backhuys Publishers, Leiden.
Gupta, A.K., Sharma, M. & Tandon, N. (Editors), 2004. Reviews on Indian Medicinal Plants,
Volume 4 (Ba-By). Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi.
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Klinowski, J., Cheng C-F., Sanz J., Rojo J.M., Mackay A. Structural studies of tabasheer, an opal
of plant origin. Phil. Mag.A, 1998, Vol. 77, No. 1, 201- 216.
Websites:
http://www.itmonline.org/arts/bamboo.htm [accessed December 2007]
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