Lycoconfort & skincare during chemotherapy: thoughts from BioRecept’s founder

Anne Dupouy Camet

BioRecept founder and Parisian pharmacist Anne Dupouy-Camet had two primary sources of inspiration for her skincare creations. Her sons — models who smoked — led her to research hyaluronic acid for its ability to restore and rejuvenate prematurely aged skin. And her parents — both of whom underwent chemotherapy for ten years — led her to explore how hyaluronic acid, blended with the right mix of other nourishing ingredients, could deeply moisturize and help restore delicate, fragile, extremely dry skin.

Anne originally created her best-selling Lycoconfort de Peau moisturizer for her mother. “Lycoconfort was the only thing that could soothe her skin,” she noted — and it’s our go-to recommendation for those whose skin is so parched that it seems as though nothing could be moisturizing enough. During our last visit to her office in Paris, she explained why she thinks is was such a powerful panacea for her mom’s complexion.

“Chemotherapy can be similar to the approach of bombing another country — some civilians can be hurt along the way! In addition to cancer cells, young and healthy skin cells are destroyed, too. Hair cannot grow. And after each treatment, the skin can look older. I noticed this with both of my parents during their chemotherapy.

“With my mother in particular, her skin was extremely dry. So with Lycoconfort, I combined a high concentration (20%) of short chain hyaluronic acid with some long chain hyaluronic acid to help skin retain moisture. Waxes that become liquid at skin temperature along with oils, like melon oil, help keep the skin cells intact and properly connected with each other so that they can keep moisture in, too. And Lycopene is a carotenoid which, over time, is like a subtle pigment. It gives skin a glow.

“For those undergoing chemo treatment, they can use Lycoconfort morning and night, with Bio de Peau or plain water to cleanse the skin. Bio de Peau can slow down the burning feeling that can come with cancer therapies and can be applied after cleansing as well to help repair the skin.”