Free-radicals are high-energy particles that are both present in the environment and generated internally from skin cell activity. Free-radicals can damage collagen, which is an important structural material that keeps the skin looking firm and smooth.

Antioxidants are the arch enemy of the free-radical. There are several types of free-radical (known as different species) and each species is neutralised to a greater or lesser extent by different antioxidant actives. Just like having a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect against both UVA and UVB, Firewall has been designed to provide the skin with a 'broad-spectrum' protection in the fight against free-radical damage.

Firewall is like no other cream available due to its:

• Broad Spectrum - ability to neutralise a wide variety of free radicals not just one or two specific species
• Redundancy - capacity of neutralising by-products of first generation free-radical quenching
• Pump antioxidant activity - Firewall lasts longer than ordinary antioxidants
• Strength - Independent tests have demonstrated that Firewall is five times stronger than the next best alternative premium antioxidant cream

In the now famous BBC Horizon documentary on the science of cosmetics, it was concluded that an antioxidant cream was beneficial only if the FINAL product had been tested for antioxidant activity.

This is because some substances have great antioxidant performance as ingredients but work poorly when formulated into creams. In addition, the mixing together of different types of antioxidants can cancel out each individual ingredient's positive effect and even to the extent of having a negative effect (pro-oxidant). Checking the ingredient list of an antioxidant product can be of little assistance in determining how effective it will be in protecting the skin from free radicals.

The documentary producers chose an independent laboratory, experts in antioxidant research, to do a wide range of tests to assess the potency of commonly available skin creams with antioxidant claims. Medik8 Firewall developers commissioned the same laboratory, research team and equipment to test Firewall over not one but four free radical assays. To give results meaning, nine competing products were independently procured from official stockists, and underwent the same tests. All creams tested were from leading premium and professional brands and available all over the world. Each product was marketed as the leading antioxidant cream from that brand.

Firewall led the field in both total antioxidant power (peroxynitrite) and broad-spectrum coverage (average of 4 separate tests). The main active in Firewall’s Cusodase-P complex had a total antioxidant power over 40 times greater than that of pure vitamin C powder (L-ascorbic acid). Incredibly some competitor products were actually pro-oxidant in certain tests meaning the product actually contributed free-radicals meaning you would be better off not using them. Other products performed well in one or two tests but poorly in the rest.

Firewall contains New Cusodase-P complex

Firewall comprises a new unique patent-pending anti-ageing complex called Cusodase-P, a blend of actives including the Firewall breakthrough antioxidant molecule that's 40 times stronger than vitamin C in the Total Antioxidant assay test, yet remains remarkably stable.

Cusodase-P was developed by Medik8 exclusively for use in Firewall and is protected by two pending patents. it is not available under licence to any other brand. As result, Firewall is the only way to benefit from this extremely potent, broad-spectrum antioxidant complex.

Cusodase-P comprises a copper chelate, superoxide dismutase enzyme-like system, triple quenchers (RNS, ROS and RCS) and two novel anti-ageing peptides. The complex is bundled into a “quad-phase” delivery system which ensures stability of activity, super-hydration, premium aesthetics and superb delivery characteristics.

Users should see immediate hydration with age-defying benefits in days and a more youthful appearance will be visibly noticeable in a number of weeks.

Firewall is at least five times stronger

Firewall has been tested in the Total Antioxidant Test and it performed extraordinarily well. The final product has been tested for its antioxidant performance rather than active ingredients individually. The Total Antioxidant Test proved Firewall 5 times stronger than other available leading brands. This guarantees Firewall’s superb anti-aging performance.

Firewall was tested and benchmarked against 9 leading premium and professional antioxidant creams from the most well known skin care brands. No expense was spared in selecting the finest products. Each product was identified as the brand's flagship antioxidant product and was independantly purchased from authorised stockists.

Firewall has antioxidant redundancy to deal with harmful bi-products

As a broad spectrum antioxidant, Firewall has the ability to show redundancy.

Let’s take the action of the body’s natural antioxidant called superoxide dismutase (or SOD). SOD is excellent at neutralising the singlet oxygen free radical, but converts it into H₂O₂ (hydrogen peroxide or bleach) which is just as damaging as the original singlet oxygen radical. Of course the body has a second antioxidant enzyme, called catalase that completes the neutralisation process, converting the H₂O₂ into water and oxygen.

Many antioxidant products are only able to protect against the first line of free radicals, and do not adequately counter the bi-products of neutralization such as hydrogen peroxide. As you can see, removing one free radical to replace it with another does not make sense.

Firewall is a joined up product. Firewall not only mimics SOD but incredibly it also mimics Catalase so that when Firewall converts singlet oxygen radicals to hydrogen peroxide, it also converts that hydrogen peroxide bi-product to harmless water and oxygen. This is a patent pending invention.

Limiting the levels of hydrogen peroxide lowers the amount of another bi-product free radical called the hydroxyl radical, which is derived from hydrogen peroxide. In any event, the high levels of 'antioxidant redundancy' exhibited by the Firewall Cusodase-P complex protects against the hydroxyl radical. You can see levels of hydroxyl radical quenching (by brand) in the graph below.

Firewall acts like a pump so it lasts longer

Most antioxidant products work like sponges that soak up or quench free radicals; but like a sponge, they soon fill up to capacity and can no longer absorb. Vitamin C, Vitamin E and many botanical antioxidants work like a sponge. Firewall is a breakthough because in addition to acting as a sponge-type antioxidant, it has been found to have strong SOD and Catalase mimetic activity. This enzyme-like behaviour mimics the way cells work in naturally tackling free-radical damage. Firewall molecules can process millions of repeated conversions before losing activity.

This is just like the skin cell's own enzyme antioxidant protection system.

Explaining the concept of 'Hormesis' ie. when less is sometimes more

Firewall components and the final product have been fully tested. As explained earlier, not only does this mean that the product is guaranteed to use harmonious ingredient combinations but also that the concentration of each is optimized.

Once you find a great antioxidant ingredient, surely the more you include the stronger the activity? Surprisingly, this is not the case.

As was seen in at least two products tested, the concept of “Antioxidant Hormesis” played a major role in the product’s negative performance. As can be seen in the demonstration graph above, as the sample increases in concentration it turns from being an antioxidant to pro-oxidant.

The Cusodase-P complex has been tested at a wide variety of concentrations and as with the 250 microgram/millilitre result on the graph, the complex concentrations are optimised to give the best performance of its actives.

Important: The above graph differs from the previous charts by showing the results inversely, that is the higher the red block, the weaker the antioxidant power.

Why is the formula in two separate canisters?

Firewall is separated into two parts to maximise stability and potency. Firewall's highly active ingredients are split into two groups preventing the formation of the patent-pending Cusodase-P complex right up until the time of application. You will see a deep blue colour change seconds after both actives mix.

The twin-chamber pack is an airless system and contains an oxygen-absorbing patch, creating a barrier to the outside air keeping the formula at its highest activity even during use. The last application is as active as the first.

Pump the cream once from each chamber onto the palm of your hand and leave to stand for a few seconds. Then mix the two parts slowly in a small circle. You will see a deep blue colour change indicating activation. Apply to the face.

Firewall should be used in the morning and evening after cleansing/toning and before applying retinol and/or hydrator.

Note: Medik8 Hydr8 SPF is recommended for use after applying Firewall. Hydr8 contains Ectoin, a sunburst cell protector and SPF 25 to maximise skin protection.

• What does the term “broad spectrum activity” mean?

Unlike other well known and popular antioxidants which target only one or two specific types of free radicals, Firewall is a broad spectrum antioxidant, as it’s highly effective at scavenging a wide variety of free-radical species. In this way, the protective benefit of an antioxidant system is optimized to maximum.

• What is Cusodase-P?

It is a unique patent-pending anti-ageing complex that comprises several actives including the Firewall breakthrough antioxidant molecule that is 40 times stronger than vitamin C.

• How do we know that Firewall is upto 5 times stronger than other products available on the market?

Firewall has been tested throughout development in various antioxidant assays including the Total Antioxidant Test against nine leading antioxidant products and it performed extraordinarily well.

• What other products are recommended to use along with Firewall to strengthen its effects?

Firewall is a standalone treatment serum yet fully integrated into the Medik8 program. However, like other dedicated antioxidant serums, Firewall does not contain sunscreen. Therefore we would highly recommend using Medik8 Hydr8 SPF after applying Firewall.

• How can I incorporate Firewall into my existing or Medik8 program?

The Firewall Protocol is as follows: Cleanse (oneCleanse) – Protect (Firewall) – Repair (Retinol Face and Eye boosts) – Hydrate (Hydr8 SPF25). Medik8 strongly endorse the use of sunscreen such as Hydr8 SPF during daylight hours.

• Can I use Firewall along with other products from other quality brands?

Yes, however if Firewall is used together with a product containing the L-ascorbic acid form of vitamin C, the user may notice a slight metallic smell. For the best product experience, we do not advise using ascorbic acid along with Firewall. Other forms of vitamin C including Medik8 C-Tetra, ascorbyl palmitate and magnesium/sodium ascorbyl phosphate can be used to great effect without any metallic smell (especially Medik8 C-Tetra).

• Why does Firewall’s performance last longer in comparison to other similar products on the market?

The Firewall Cusodase-P complex acts both like a sponge to soak up or quench free-radicals and. Firewall not only works like a sponge but also like a pump as it mimics the superoxide and catalase enzymes. Like enzymes, these so-called 'enzyme mimetics' can process millions of repeated conversions before losing activity. The sponge-like quencing fat-soluble vitamin C quickly absorbs and persists in the skin for days and cannot be washed off. Firewall's broad and long-lasting antioxidant performance is the perfect accompaniment for sunscreens.

• Should I be concerned by the deep blue colour formed when mixing the two components of Firewall?

Tests have shown that the Cusodase-P complex is most effective during the actual process of formation. Therefore, it seemed sensible to separate the actives until the moment of application and lock them in a twin-chamber airless packaging. The deep blue color emerging when the two actives are mixed, is a normal sign of the reaction taking place.

• What happens if some residue from the cream is left on either pump nozzle? Will this affect the next application?

No. Once the two creams have been mixed they remain completely active for at least 7 days so future applications will not be affected in any way.

• Why Firewall is delivered in a twin-chamber packing?

Thanks to twin-chamber airless packaging the last application of Firewall is just as effective as the first one. Unlike jars, airless packaging protects the cream from contamination and oxidation. It is especially important to protect antioxidant products from oxygen to maintain maximum potency.