Soy

History and Origin

Soy has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years for its health and nutritional benefits. In their natural state, soybeans have specific, active, non‐denatured components that have documented benefits for skin. Soy is a rich source of protein, lipids, carbohydrates and vitamins, which provide moisturization and antioxidant benefits to the skin. Whole soy also contains a number of small soy proteins including the serine protease inhibitors, Soybean Trypsin Inhibitor (STI) and Bowman‐Birk Inhibitor (BBI), to even out skin tone and large proteins to smooth and soften the skin.

Cultivation and Harvesting

The AVEENO® brand sources soybeans from farms that provide an ideal environment for the beans to grow. The soybean crop is identity preserved which means that beans can be traced back to the farms where they were grown. Typically, a farmer will rotate crops by year, so soybeans are planted in the same field on alternating years. This keeps from deleting the natural nutrients of the soil. Planting is in the spring, April-May, and harvest is in the fall, September-October.

Processing

Scientists for the AVEENO® Brand have developed a specialized proprietary process to ensure minimal loss of activity of the natural soybean’s small proteins (STI and BBI). Soybeans are processed in close proximity to where they were grown, assuring the freshness of the beans. The whole soybeans are ground into a fine powder, mixed with water to make a soy slurry and then spray-dried under controlled heat.  The minimal and controlled heating of the soybeans during the manufacturing process preserves the total composition of the soybean, as found naturally, including the activity of the natural soybean’s small proteins.

Composition and Activity

AVEENO® Total Soy Complex is non‐denatured soy, a rich source of protein, essentials fatty acid, lecithin, phytosterols, carbohydrates, saponins and vitamins. Most importantly, the total soy complex contains a number of small proteins including the serine protease inhibitors, Soybean Trypsin Inhibitor (STI) and Bowman‐Birk Inhibitor (BBI), which provide the ability to even out skin tone and texture.

Soy’s skin care benefits include cleansing, moisturization, improvement in the appearance of pigmentation, and visible improvements in the appearance of unwanted hair.

Formulation

Extra care is given to the selection of ingredients when formulating products containing active soy to best preserve the biological efficacy of soy in final formulation, while offering a pleasant experience upon application. Scientists for the AVEENO® Brand have created proprietary formulations that provide optimal efficacy while not compromising the product aesthetics or stability.

Patents

Scientists for the AVEENO® Brand have been granted several patents for the composition of the total soy extract, for the processing methods of the whole soybeans, for their stability, as well as for specific methods of use (US6555143, US6750229/EP1077063, EP948308, US7192615/EP1236402).