Agelyss® products are made with patented and clinically-studied active ingredients in order to guarantee the best results. With each product that we sell, we want you to know what’s in it and how it will work for your skin. While we try to keep things simple on the product pages, this blog post is for those who want a deeper understanding of our spotlight ingredients. Today’s focus is Gatuline® In-Tense.

What is Gatuline® In-Tense

Gatuline® In-Tense by Gattefossé is an extract from the Spilanthes acmella plant that is more commonly known as the “toothache plant” because it relieves pain. However, when it comes to skin care, this oily extract targets the source wrinkles. Gatuline® In-Tense stimulates the fibroblasts in the skin to organize and strengthen the extra cellular matrix, which is essentially the internal scaffolding of the skin that maintains its structure. 

Clinical Trials On Gatuline® In-Tense

Study 1: In vitro

In an in-vitro study, scientists tested the tightening and firming effects of Gatuline® In-Tense using a lab-made skin model. This model mimics real skin by containing human skin cells (fibroblasts) that connect within a collagen network. Researchers measured how much the fibroblasts contracted this structure over seven days.

To compare, they used TGF-β, a known skin-firming agent, as a reference. The results showed that Gatuline® In-Tense helped fibroblasts contract the collagen network faster than untreated samples, with noticeable effects from the first day. Higher doses of Gatuline® In-Tense led to stronger results, showing that it helps skin cells interact with collagen to improve skin structure. These findings were later confirmed in a study with 28 people.

To measure how well Gatuline® In-Tense  worked, researchers tracked how much these skin cells contracted the collagen over seven days. For comparison, they used TGF-β, a well-known skin-repairing substance. The results showed that Gatuline® In-Tense worked similarly to TGF-β, helping skin cells contract the collagen structure more quickly than untreated samples. This tightening effect was noticeable from the first day and became even stronger over time.

Higher doses of Gatuline® In-Tense led to greater improvements, proving that it helps skin cells interact with collagen for better skin structure. A follow-up clinical study on 28 volunteers confirmed these findings, showing visible firming and tightening of the skin.

Study 2: In vivo

In a second study, researchers tested Gatuline® In-Tense  on women aged 45 to 65 to see if it could reduce wrinkles, especially around the eyes (crow’s feet). Two groups of 28 women each applied a cream twice daily for 28 days—one group used a placebo cream, while the other used a cream with 2% Gatuline® In-Tense .

Quick Results from Day 1

Even after just the first application, many women noticed smoother skin. Advanced skin imaging showed that wrinkles could be reduced by up to 50% in just one day. On average, the treated group had 36% fewer wrinkles compared to the placebo group.

On the left in the image below, you can see the difference that one application of Gatuline® In-Tense can make in the comparison between day zero (D0) and day 1 (D1). On the right, you can see how much wrinkles decreases across the three parameters of surface area, depth, and volume.

Long-Lasting Improvement by Day 28

After 28 days, wrinkle depth, surface area, and volume were reduced by about 10% more compared to the placebo. Photos and skin scans confirmed the visible improvements. In the image below, you can view the comparison between the day before the experiment started (D0) and the 28th day of the experiment (D28).

Conclusion of clinical studies

Gatuline® In-Tense helps tighten skin by supporting collagen fibers, making the skin firmer and smoother. Many volunteers felt their skin looked better—53% said it was firmer after just one use, and 61% said their facial features appeared smoother.

How to get the most out of Gatuline® In-Tense

Gatuline® In-Tense is a fast-acting and long-lasting ingredient that helps reduce wrinkles and improve skin firmness, making it a promising option for anti-aging skincare. To maximize the anti-aging effects of Gatuline® In-Tense, Agelyss pairs it with 5 other patented and active ingredients in our Anti-Wrinkle Cream. Glucare® S 2% supports skin renewal, PhytoCellTec™ Alp Rose helps preserve skin cell function, and SYN®-COLL, Trylagen® PCB, and Matrixyl 3000® enhance elasticity. Together, these ingredients work overnight to tighten your skin, so you wake up with a firmer, healthier complexion.