Cycloastragenol

Cycloastragenol (CAG) is a compound found in the Astragalus plant's roots. Another common name for this plant is "Milkvetch".

This ingredient is said to have an interesting property - it has the ability to activate telomerase.

Short biology refresher: Telomerase is an enzyme that is responsible for creating telomeres.

Why are telomeres important? They protect our chromosomes from damage and regulate the lifespan of a cell.

Since our skin is self-renewing, telomeres are important for preventing abnormal cell proliferation and cancer.

A study of 18 people from a skincare brand found participants saw improvement in many areas of skin including a reduction of fine-lines and wrinkles. However, it should be noted participants used a cocktail of cycloastragenol, growth factors, peptides, and antioxidants.

Another in-vitro study found CAG to be promising at protecting skin against UVB damage.

Further studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of this ingredient, but it will still go on our "liked ingredients" list for now.

Fun fact: This plant has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. It is also being looked at for treating depression.