Bio Velvet
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Bio Velvet is the new luxury skincare range which offers profound benefits for the human skin but is based on a unique skin regenerating tissue: Deer Velvet extract (the soft, healing protein that forms deer antlers). Devised after decades of research, Dr Zur, having suffered from severe skin seborrhea himself, recognised the topical effects the deer velvet ingredient had as a natural alternative to using steroid creams. And the Bio Velvet range was born: based on proteins, bioactive components and amino acids from the deer velvet extract. As a psoriasis, sensitive skin sufferer, I caught up with him to explore the profound benefits of Bio Velvet.
Dr Zur has firsthand experience with animal proteins and tissue: he began life as a leading veterinarian in New Zealand where he directly witnessed the regenerating properties of deer velvet in multiple case studies. A decade later suffering from severe skin seborrhea and stuck for options that weren’t aggravating steroid creams, he recalled the potency of the deer extract on tissues and wound healing. Creating his own personal formulation for seborrhea, Dr Zur decided to launch a skincare range around the deer velvet extract. ‘In our research, we learnt that the proteins and bioactive components found in deer antler velvet – especially growth factors and key amino acids – play an important role in supporting tissue vitality,’ Dr Zur continues, ‘these proteins help encourage cellular communication and regeneration, which not only are essential for healthy skin renewal but accelerate the natural processes of skin recovery.’
Directly sourced from New Zealand under strictly regulated processes, Dr Zur is quick to emphasise that the Bio Velvet products do not ‘use a single deer velvet protein but a small portion of the antler during its active growing stage to maintain integrity of the biological complex.’ Amongst over 400 naturally occurring amino acids, minerals and bioactives are also insulin like growth factors (IGF-1, IGF-2) for tissue renewal and cellular maintenance. Bio Velvet takes this biological complex and combines it with natural botanicals to support overall skin repair rather than short term anti-ageing actives.
Whilst the deer velvet extract might sound like a novel concept initially, it has actually been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine where it is classified as a medicinal plant. ‘Deer Antler Velvet does not interfere with the skin’s microbiome and does not alter the skin’s natural pH. The primary biological property associated with deer velvet is angiogenesis – the formation of new blood vessels – which plays a key role in tissue repair and wound healing,’ explains Dr Zur.
The Bio Velvet Cream formulation takes the deer velvet extract and fuses it with other botanicals: Aloe Vera extract, Tea tree oil, Dead Sea minerals, and Ginkgo Bilbao extract. So aside from the Deer Velvet which works to naturally renew collagen levels, other botanical benefits include hydration, anti-inflammatory, skin barrier resilience and balance, and improved circulation.
As someone with sensitive skin who suffers from psoriasis particularly during stressful periods or change of seasons, I was curious about the potency of a topical cream. Even after usage for a week, I have noticed improved skin balance, hydration; whilst I normally favour serums due to lightness, the texture of the Bio Velvet moisturiser is light enough that it doesn’t cause over-clogging and easily sweeps deep into the skin layers. The emulsive formulation has widespread benefits; healing excema, pigmentation, molluscum and even herpes.
So how will the Bio velvet range expand from here? ‘We will continue to expand the product categories and have just successfully got a registered patent for a natural antiv product for lip herpes – all formulations created with the same commitment to quality and ethical sourcing.’
The Bio Velvet Cream is now a staple part of my skincare – look forward to following the developments.