{"id":10186,"date":"2025-10-10T15:51:31","date_gmt":"2025-10-10T13:51:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pk.edu.pl\/?p=10186"},"modified":"2026-10-23T10:20:25","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T08:20:25","slug":"from-lab-to-market-science-driven-cosmetics-from-pk-krakow-university-of-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pk.edu.pl\/en\/from-lab-to-market-science-driven-cosmetics-from-pk-krakow-university-of-technology\/","title":{"rendered":"From Lab to&nbsp;Market. Science-Driven Cosmetics from PK&nbsp;Krakow University of&nbsp;Technology"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/pk.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/PolitechnikaKrakowskaKremyAntiPollutionMMalinowskaESikoraADziki1-1-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"PK KUT inventors with the Anti-Pollution creams: Prof. Magdalena Malinowska, Prof. El\u017cbieta Sikora, Anna Dziki, M.Sc. Eng. Photo: Jan Zych\" class=\"wp-image-10191\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pk.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/PolitechnikaKrakowskaKremyAntiPollutionMMalinowskaESikoraADziki1-1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pk.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/PolitechnikaKrakowskaKremyAntiPollutionMMalinowskaESikoraADziki1-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pk.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/PolitechnikaKrakowskaKremyAntiPollutionMMalinowskaESikoraADziki1-1-767x511.jpg 767w, https:\/\/pk.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/PolitechnikaKrakowskaKremyAntiPollutionMMalinowskaESikoraADziki1-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pk.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/PolitechnikaKrakowskaKremyAntiPollutionMMalinowskaESikoraADziki1-1.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-pk-typografia-lead pk-lead has-text-align-justify\"><strong>Our pro-health &#8220;Anti-Pollution&#8221; skincare line, born in&nbsp;the laboratories of&nbsp;the PK&nbsp;Krakow University of&nbsp;Technology (PK&nbsp;KUT), is&nbsp;making its debut on&nbsp;the Polish and European cosmetics markets. DUOLIFE\u2019s&nbsp;creams are the first to&nbsp;carry the \u2018Science &amp; Innovation by&nbsp;PK&nbsp;KUT mark, symbolizing proven research-based quality. These are next-generation cosmetics that act as&nbsp;an&nbsp;invisible shield, protecting the skin from aggressive environmental pollutants, including heavy metals, solar radiation, and blue light.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<nav class=\"pkng-toc\" aria-label=\"Contents\"><p class=\"pkng-toc__title\">Contents<\/p><ul class=\"pkng-toc__list\"><li class=\"pkng-toc__item pkng-toc__item--h3\"><a href=\"#h-the-power-of-bugle-root\"><span class=\"pkng-toc__nr\">1.<\/span> The Power of&nbsp;Bugle Root<\/a><\/li><li class=\"pkng-toc__item pkng-toc__item--h3\"><a href=\"#h-scientific-validation-and-patents\"><span class=\"pkng-toc__nr\">2.<\/span> Scientific Validation and Patents<\/a><\/li><li class=\"pkng-toc__item pkng-toc__item--h3\"><a href=\"#h-the-first-cosmetics-with-the-science-innovation-by-pk-krakow-university-of-technology-mark\"><span class=\"pkng-toc__nr\">3.<\/span> The First Cosmetics with the &quot;Science &amp; Innovation by&nbsp;PK&nbsp;Krakow University of&nbsp;Technology&quot; Mark<\/a><\/li><li class=\"pkng-toc__item pkng-toc__item--h3\"><a href=\"#h-from-our-lab-to-european-markets-a-team-effort\"><span class=\"pkng-toc__nr\">4.<\/span> From Our Lab to&nbsp;European Markets: A&nbsp;Team Effort<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><br><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Power of&nbsp;Bugle Root<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">The secret behind these innovative cosmetics lies in&nbsp;an&nbsp;extract from the root of&nbsp;the common bugle (<em>Ajuga reptans L.<\/em>), a&nbsp;plant found in&nbsp;thousands of&nbsp;Polish gardens and parks. The unique solutions, protected by&nbsp;patents and patent applications, resulted from the research of&nbsp;Magdalena Malinowska, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Professor at&nbsp;CUT, El\u017cbieta Sikora, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Professor at&nbsp;CUT, and Anna Dziki, M.Sc.&nbsp;Eng., from the Chemistry and Cosmetics Technology research group at&nbsp;the Faculty of&nbsp;Chemical Engineering and Technology. While skincare has long used bugle leaves and flowers, CUT researchers were the first in&nbsp;the world to&nbsp;explore the root\u2019s&nbsp;cosmetic potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">Prof. El\u017cbieta Sikora explains: &#8220;<em>We&nbsp;based our innovative cosmetic formulations on&nbsp;a&nbsp;globally common plant. In&nbsp;line with global sustainability trends, using all parts of&nbsp;the plant is&nbsp;both efficient and eco-friendly.<\/em>&#8221; The research produced remarkable results. &#8220;<em>The extract from the bugle root surpasses the herb extracts in&nbsp;activity in&nbsp;e.g., radioprotective effects, the ability to&nbsp;remove heavy metals, and in&nbsp;inhibiting the activity of&nbsp;the enzymes tyrosinase and collagenase<\/em>.&#8221; lists Prof. Sikora.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">Inhibiting tyrosinase leads to&nbsp;skin brightening and evening out skin tone. Inhibiting collagenase means the extract protects the skin&#8217;s&nbsp;collagen structure, enhancing its elasticity. &#8220;<em>The root extract also exhibits another crucial ability\u2014binding and removing heavy metal ions. Thus, it&nbsp;protects the skin from the harmful effects of&nbsp;environmental pollution<\/em>,&#8221; adds Prof. Sikora. &#8220;<em>It&nbsp;creates an&nbsp;invisible shield against harmful UV&nbsp;and HEV radiation from the sun and digital screens<\/em>,&#8221; says Dziki, M.Sc.&nbsp;Eng.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Scientific Validation and Patents<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">The multi-directional action of&nbsp;the bugle root extract was confirmed by&nbsp;comprehensive scientific analyses, including instrumental skin analyser tests, consumer studies, and assessments of&nbsp;antioxidant mechanisms. The discovery is&nbsp;protected by&nbsp;two Polish patents, two additional patent applications, and know-how. &#8220;<em>The protection covers both the products and the highly efficient extraction process<\/em>,&#8221; says Prof. Malinowska.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">The extract is&nbsp;obtained through an&nbsp;eco-friendly process that preserves the full biological activity of&nbsp;its components. Most formula components are of&nbsp;natural origin, and the entire series was created respecting the principles of&nbsp;sustainable development. &#8220;<em>Nature gave us&nbsp;power, and we&nbsp;are using it&nbsp;responsibly<\/em>,&#8221; highlights Prof. Sikora.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The First Cosmetics with the &#8220;Science &amp; Innovation by&nbsp;PK&nbsp;Krakow University of&nbsp;Technology&#8221; Mark<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">The rights to&nbsp;the innovative bugle root formulations developed at&nbsp;CUT were acquired by&nbsp;the Polish company DUOLIFE S.A., which for 12 years has been producing and selling top-quality dietary supplements and cosmetics. Together with the university&#8217;s&nbsp;research team, they created the pioneering DUOLIFE Anti-Pollution series, dedicated especially to&nbsp;residents of&nbsp;cities and large metropolitan areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three technologically advanced creams are now debuting on&nbsp;the market:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Anti-Pollution Pro Dermo Boost Day Cream<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Anti-Pollution Pro Dermo Repair Night Cream<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Anti-Pollution Pro Multi-Filter SPF50+ Protective Emulsion<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">All are signed with the &#8220;Science &amp; Innovation by&nbsp;PK&nbsp;Krakow University of&nbsp;Technology&#8221; mark, a&nbsp;joint brand of&nbsp;the company and the university. This mark emphasizes their scientifically proven foundations and innovation, serving as&nbsp;a&nbsp;guarantee of&nbsp;quality and efficacy. Prof. Magdalena Malinowska emphasizes: &#8220;<em>Typical anti-pollution products target one factor. Our creams protect against air pollutants, solar radiation, blue light, and heavy metals\u2014a&nbsp;comprehensive shield for urban skin<\/em>&#8220;<em>.&nbsp;<\/em>The day cream has an&nbsp;antioxidant effect, binds heavy metals, and leaves the complexion smoothed, moisturized, and radiant with an&nbsp;anti-aging effect. The rich night cream intensively supports skin after daily exposure to&nbsp;pollution and HEV radiation, providing deep regeneration and nourishment during sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/pk.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/PolitechnikaKrakowskaKremyAntiPollutionMMalinowskaESikoraADziki-1-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"PK KUT inventors with the Anti-Pollution creams: Prof. Magdalena Malinowska, Prof. El\u017cbieta Sikora, Anna Dziki, M.Sc. Eng. Photo: Jan Zych\" class=\"wp-image-10192\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pk.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/PolitechnikaKrakowskaKremyAntiPollutionMMalinowskaESikoraADziki-1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pk.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/PolitechnikaKrakowskaKremyAntiPollutionMMalinowskaESikoraADziki-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pk.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/PolitechnikaKrakowskaKremyAntiPollutionMMalinowskaESikoraADziki-1-767x511.jpg 767w, https:\/\/pk.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/PolitechnikaKrakowskaKremyAntiPollutionMMalinowskaESikoraADziki-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pk.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/PolitechnikaKrakowskaKremyAntiPollutionMMalinowskaESikoraADziki-1.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>From Our Lab to&nbsp;European Markets: A&nbsp;Team Effort<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">Justyna Gody\u0144, PhD, Head of&nbsp;R&amp;D&nbsp;at&nbsp;DUOLIFE S.A., emphasizes that the decision to&nbsp;invest in&nbsp;the innovative cosmetics based on&nbsp;the university&#8217;s&nbsp;solutions was made &#8220;<em>without hesitation\u2014within one day of&nbsp;the Demo Day presentation.<\/em>&#8221; The patented, naturally-derived technologies followed a&nbsp;rapid commercialization path\u2014from public presentation in&nbsp;2023 to&nbsp;market launch in&nbsp;September 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">The collaboration allowed for expanding the project with an&nbsp;additional product, the Pro Multi-Filter SPF50+. The inventors proposed necessary formulation modifications for the patent application and tested the biological activity of&nbsp;various recipe variants. Adam Kuc, the University&#8217;s&nbsp;patent attorney, assisted with the intellectual property protection for this solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">Joanna Szypu\u0142ka from the Technology Transfer Centre of&nbsp;our university shares the recipe for success: &#8220;<em>Commercialization is&nbsp;a&nbsp;team game. It&nbsp;involves the scientist, technology broker, patent attorney, lawyer, and the company&#8217;s&nbsp;R&amp;D&nbsp;specialists. To&nbsp;this mix, you must add mutual understanding, cooperation, and respect<\/em>.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify wp-block-paragraph\">The collaboration between PK&nbsp;Krakow University of&nbsp;Technology and DUOLIFE is&nbsp;set to&nbsp;continue, with new formulas already being developed for future products in&nbsp;the Anti-Pollution series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Power of&nbsp;Bugle Root The secret behind these innovative cosmetics lies in&nbsp;an&nbsp;extract from the root of&nbsp;the common bugle (Ajuga reptans [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":10191,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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Power of&nbsp;Bugle Root The secret behind these innovative cosmetics lies in&nbsp;an&nbsp;extract from the root of&nbsp;the common bugle (Ajuga reptans 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