Dallas, Texas (October 25, 2022) – Mary Kay Inc., one of the world’s innovative skincare companies, has announced a new partnership with the European Society for Dermatological Research (ESDR) with its registered office in Geneva, Switzerland, to award grants to researchers at the 51st Annual ESDR Meeting. The congress took place between September 28 – October 1, 2022, in person with the sessions recorded and available on-demand after the congress.
Mary Kay will be awarding two $20,000 grants to researchers conducting groundbreaking and innovative studies in skin health or skin diseases, for which eligible applicants can apply through December 9, 2022. Winners will be announced during a special virtual event this coming March preceding the inaugural meeting of the First International Societies for Investigative Dermatology conference in May. With these funds, Mary Kay hopes to empower researchers to uncover new perspectives and interventional strategies in dermatology.
Mary Kay presented exciting new findings at the 51st annual ESDR meeting as part of its ongoing research focused on the biology of skin aging. The team explored the changes over time that impact the eye, specifically the upper eyelid. Over time, the upper eyelid contours begin to sag, leading to a droopy or hooded appearance. Currently, only in-office options have been shown to significantly improve the appearance of droopy lids. At the annual meeting, Geetha Kalahasti, Associate Principal Scientist, Upstream Research, Clinical & Scientific Credentialing at Mary Kay shared the results of a clinical study that evaluated the effectiveness of a cosmetic formulation containing botanical extracts as a topical solution to treat droopy lids. Botanical extracts targeted three main components that contribute to the effect – dermal matrix degradation, weakening of the upper eyelid retractor, and shifting of upper eyelid fat pads. The findings showed significant improvement in eyelid droopiness and contouring, providing a promising at-home cosmetic solution to the droopy eye concern. Two independent board-certified dermatologists evaluated the clinical images and confirmed the results to be compelling.
“Women are seeking more advanced at-home beauty treatment options and our Upstream Innovation team is meeting this need by designing new products that provide compelling skin benefits. This is just one of the many ways we meet and exceed consumer expectations, Participation at international conferences like ESDR is one way we share and learn about the latest advancements in skincare science to remain relevant in our research efforts, build industry-wide connections, and establish Mary Kay as a global leader in skin science.”
Dr. Lucy Gildea, Chief Innovation Officer, Product & Science at Mary Kay.
ESDR supports investigative dermatology with the goal of improving the health of patients who are suffering from skin disorders. The annual European Society for Dermatological Research (ESDR) Conference is held in Europe each year every September. The content of this year’s annual ESDR meeting included guest lectures from internationally recognized scientists, oral presentations from peer-reviewed abstracts, cutting-edge “frontier” talks in skin science, educational symposia on a wide range of topics, electronic presentations of posters, and interactive workshop-type sessions. With an attendance of over 1,100 registered delegates from 51 countries, the ESDR annual meeting attracts scientists from all over the world with an interest in dermatology to discover the latest basic, clinical, and translational research findings.
“On behalf of the ESDR board, we would like to thank Mary Kay for its support of the ESDR and its generous contribution to ESDR activities. A key objective of our Society is to promote innovative research in investigative dermatology and to support researchers’ activities in translational skin research. We are honored, grateful, and delighted to have Mary Kay as part of this effort.”
Eli Sprecher, Chair of the Scientific Program Committee of ESDR.