Putting a New Face on Peoria
Posted on November 30th, 2005

Local company establishes Peoria area as home of revolutionary innovation in anti-aging cosmetics

Peoria, IL - As the U.S. population ages, the demand for anti-aging skincare products is driving new product development and creating profit opportunities for technically advanced formulations. With such a growing emphasis on youth and looking younger, consumers are looking for the least invasive, least expensive way possible - beginning with cosmetics. A Peoria company called iSoy Technologies aims to meet that demand with a new technology developed in Peoria’s own USDA National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR).

Two researchers at the NCAUR developed a method to provide a natural anti-aging ingredient as an additive to cosmetic companies that could make major strides in the consumer’s struggle to look and feel younger. That ingredient is ferulic acid, a natural antioxidant found in plants that provide protection to seeds as they germinate and grow.

However, in its normal form, ferulic acid is not soluble, and like other related compounds found in blueberries, cranberries and similar plants, gives a strong stain that stays on the skin and clothing. According to Willis, “ferulic acid spread on the skin with a lotion not only stains, it putrefies rather quickly. The result is a bright yellow skin that smells bad: not the best ingredient for a cosmetic.”

Joseph Laszlo and David Compton of NCAUR conquered this issue by discovering a method to deliver ferulic acid to the skin, without transferring these negative effects to the skin, a feat/challenge many companies have made tremendous investments trying to overcome. Using an environmentally friendly process known as biocatalysis, the researchers have discovered a method to chemically bind the ferulic acid to a natural vegetable oil like soy using an enzyme native to the Antarctic, opening up a new world for the cosmetics industry.

iSoy Technologies has been working with researchers at the NCAUR and the Biotechnology Research and Development Corporation (BRDC) in Peoria to bring this innovative technology to the marketplace and an eager consumer base.

Raymond Willis, President and founder of iSoyTechnologies, said, “Identifying a match between what the demands and desires of the consumer base and the solution a technology bears is a rare, but valuable commodity. We think we’ve found a match with iSoy”.

The product iSoy has developed is SoyScreentm, originally conceived of as a natural, biodegradable sunscreen derived from soybean oil, specifically attractive to consumers seeking natural forms of sun protection. However, further analysis revealed that SoyScreen inherently possesses additional characteristics that are highly sought after in the mega-billion dollar skin care and cosmetics industry.

Numerous versions of SoyScreentm are being created by the company in cooperation with NCAUR and BRDC. SoyScreentm actually preserves the formulations to which it is added, has no color, contains one of the best antioxidants known, and helps facilitate the formulation of many other compounds used in the cosmetics that are currently sold. Furthermore, SoyScreen is still the most effective natural UVA/UVB sun blocker in the market space.

iSoyTechnologies has now entered into an initial agreement with the leading U.S. cosmetics additives company, International Specialties Products, which is anticipated to lead to a permanent agreement for international sales and distribution in the next 30 days.

In addition, a well regarded market innovator in the cosmetics industry is successfully integrating one of the versions of SoyScreentm into a new line of products that will be sold early next year at up-scale stores across the U.S.

iSoy’s initial manufacturing operations and further product development will be conducted in Peoria. “This is a company that should be in Peoria,” said Willis. “The support provided by the local community leaders and organizations associated with Peoria NEXT has shown me the commitment here that makes companies like us possible.”

Willis and his team have assembled a first rate team including a veteran manufacturing and productions expert, a seasoned process science and design specialist, and a cosmetics industry executive with over forty years of experience with most of the major U.S. cosmetics companies. While manufacturers are increasingly incorporating anti-aging formulas into products including shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers and foundation, developers say iSoy’s anti-aging formula is a perfect fit.

Furthermore, as consumers opt for formulations with natural-based and effective ingredients, such a move could help boost the soy industry, which is already a significant supplier of ingredients to the cosmetic and toiletry industries.

Willis and his team are currently putting a seed-round of capital in place to finance the rapid growth in production capacity that has been generated through the company’s initial agreements and contracts.

"Former Peoria mayor and current Chairman and CEO of L.R. Nelson Corporation, Dave Ransburg is our lead investor for iSoy Technologies, and we are seeing that Peoria area investors are becoming increasingly interested in this discovery,” Willis said.

For more information, contact Ray Willis, President, iSoy Technologies at 847.651.2251 or email rwillis@isoytech.com.