2012 Beauty Breakthroughs

Photo by: David Cook

Pantene Expert Collection AgeDefy Advanced Thickening Treatment

Yet another sad but true fact about aging: The shiny, resilient mane we had in high school starts showing its years by the time we're 40. There's dullness and breakage, but perhaps the most alarming change is thinning, as some follicles shrink, producing finer strands, while others shut down altogether. Pantene combined skin-care ingredients with ... more 

Photo by: David Cook

Pantene Expert Collection AgeDefy Advanced Thickening Treatment

Yet another sad but true fact about aging: The shiny, resilient mane we had in high school starts showing its years by the time we're 40. There's dullness and breakage, but perhaps the most alarming change is thinning, as some follicles shrink, producing finer strands, while others shut down altogether. Pantene combined skin-care ingredients with hair-strengthening polymers to thicken individual strands from within, so the hair you have looks and feels younger.

HOW IT WORKS: Pantene's chemists had one (ambitious) goal: Make thin strands thick again. "We know that as hairs grow finer, they're more prone to break, look dull, and lie flat on the head, making the fact that you have less volume even more obvious," explains Jeni Thomas, principal scientist at P&G Beauty and Grooming, which owns Pantene. After screening thousands of skin-care ingredients, chemists identified three-caffeine, niacinamide, and panthenol-that could penetrate the hair cuticle and cortex, making the strands significantly stronger and more supple. They also added a silicone polymer and an acrylate polymer that connect along the cuticle layer to strengthen and thicken strands. A study published in the British Journal of Dermatology reported that the treatment increases the diameter of individual hairs significantly, creating the illusion of 6,500 more strands. Clinical testing also showe less