The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) Research & Development team has unveiled a new biomechanical eye model that mimics the mechanical stress on peri-orbital skin caused by blinking, which will allow the US prestige beauty giant to investigate the cellular impact as a function of age.

The team presented its findings at the 75th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology this week.

“Understanding how cells sense their environment, and respond to its mechanical properties by altering patterns of protein expression as well as other cellular functions, represents an important discovery in skin science research,” said Nadine Pernodet, Vice President of Skin Biology and BioActives Research & Development, Estée Lauder Companies Research & Development. “Instead of only focusing on the unique structural characteristics of eye skin, this new biomechanical model shows that maintenance of the extracellular matrix is diminished and skin cell functions are compromised due to the natural repetitive tissue movements around the eye, thus accelerating skin aging.”