BeautyNZ Magazine Autumn 2024

Cover
STORY
By Lisa Potter
The founder and CEO of Atopis is one
of a small minority of women scientists
successfully globally patenting her
research. Her innovative approach
to long-term skin health is truly
revolutionary.
Although backed by decades of powerful
knowledge and research, Atopis quite
simply delivers around its driving
philosophy: healthy skin is beautiful skin.
Proven credentials
With more than 35 years as a scientist,
Iona gained her PhD from the Cancer
Research labs of the University of
Auckland by being first to discover that
the fundamental cellular process of
apoptosis (programmed cell death) in
plants could be reversed.
She later went on to apply this to human
cancer and immune cells, which led
her into fields such as botanical drug
discovery, immune modulation and
particularly gut health.
Her most recent patent is Myrecil®,
which is now at the heart of Atopis and
AtopisMed® products. All Atopis and
AtopisMed® products are not just made
in New Zealand, they are invented here
too.
Added to that, Atopis is the only New
Zealand skincare brand manufactured
to pharmaceutical/GMP standards,
rather than just cosmetic manufacturing
standards.
The breakthrough daily care and
dermatological products are sold in New
Zealand, Australia and the USA.
Lifelong Goals
Driven by science, discovery and a desire
to innovate, over the years Iona has
continued to explore the connections
between cell signalling, gut health and
immunology. This resulted in learnings
around how these inner processes
could have a remarkable effect on the
outside too – on the skin. Adding to her
motivation, Iona’s interest in skincare
wasn’t just scientific – it was also
personal.
“I had skin problems for most of my
adult life, and all the money I spent on
so- called ‘beauty science’ not only didn’t
work, it usually made things worse,” she
admits.
Armed with her experience with botanical
chemistry, microbiology, probiotic
encapsulation and how to manipulate
plants to produce bioactives to reverse
cellular apoptosis, Iona began the journey
to create a radical new approach to skin
health.
As part of this undertaking, she also
noted that at the time there was almost
no skin science created by female
scientists.
“There’s nothing wrong with men
creating skin care – they’ve got skin too!
But women are different, right down to
the cellular level. And I found there was a
basic disconnect between what I needed,
and what the beauty industry was trying
to sell me. So as I’m a scientist, I thought
I might as well figure out what was
missing myself.”
Her drive and fresh approach yielded
impressive results, including research
around what is now her patented
Myrecil®.
A biologically fermented set of isomers
especially designed to reset natural
cell renewal and defence systems like
apoptosis and antibody activation, it’s so
powerful and safe that as well as topical
usage with Atopis creams, Myrecil® can
be used in Atopis Dietary Supplements
to work along the gut-skin axis for true
inside-out treatment.
“My approach is to reset and reactivate
your skin’s fundamental natural systems
– systems that can go awry for many
reasons, such as the mostly artificial
environment we now live in. Once your
skin has reset – a process over usually
30-60 days – you just need minimal
maintenance, because obviously factors
behind the issues, like genetics or
environmental stressors, aren’t going
anywhere.”
Global implications
Dr Weir’s innovative science, developed
here in Aotearoa New Zealand using
all-natural ingredients, is creating a stir
internationally.
Atopis and The Myrecil® Ingredient now
hold multiple global patents, with more
pending. Eczema clinical trials in the USA
and New Zealand have demonstrated
Myrecil® reduces the symptoms of
eczema, but also as a side benefit
appeared to plump the skin in a similar
manner to retinoids.
Cellular assays have confirmed that
Myrecil has retinoid like activity, is more
effective but without the side effects. This
is a major breakthrough, as long-term use
of retinols can cause redness, thinning
and prematurely aging skin, increased sun
sensitivity as well as more serious issues.
“The Myrecil Ingredient works with your
own natural cellular defence and renewal
systems to restore skin,” she says.
AUTUMN 2024 EDITION
29