POWER PLANT

The star ingredient in Veriphy’s skincare line was discovered by accident when a microbiology experiment with non-GMO Ontario sweet corn went wrong at the University of Guelph. When scientists studied the contents of the shelved beaker, they found that it contained glycogen, a form of glucose used to fuel cells. (In skin, it helps with the production of elastin, collagen and hyaluronic acid.) They also found that this variety of phytoglycogen appears to love water. “It will absorb and hold onto it, so that’s what gave [the scientists] the idea to look into skincare,” says Alison Crumblehulme, founder and president of Veriphy. Each of the three products—a lactic acid serum, a moisturizer and an eye cream—uses 200 per cent more of the active than what is typically used in a product, says Jessica Kizovki, lead formulator. “It’s not a cheap ingredient, but we really wanted to power pack it,” she says of the phytoglycogen. It also allowed her to forgo using silicones. “By increasing the dosage, I got not only a better effect but also a velvety feel.”