MONASCUS/MECONOPSIS HORRIDULA FLOWER/RICE BRAN FERMENT FILTRATE.

Functioning as an anti-sebum agent, this ingredient actively inhibits the synthesis of skin lipids, leading to reduced oiliness. It exhibits powerful antioxidant properties by inhibiting oxygen-promoted reactions, thereby preventing cellular damage and ingredient degradation. As a skin conditioning emollient, it softens and smooths the skin's surface. Furthermore, specific components from the Monascus purpureus ferment demonstrate photoprotective effects, mitigating UVB-induced cellular viability loss and reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction, alongside anti-melanogenic actions that decrease melanin content and tyrosinase activities. Mechanistic studies on related rice fermentation filtrates reveal an enhancement of skin barrier integrity and function through increased protein levels of claudin-1, claudin-4, and occludin in normal human epidermal keratinocyte (NHEK) cells.