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Nutraceuticals company, Works With Water, has launched the UK's first spring water containing ingredients clinically proven to help reduce acne.

The water, Beauty, contains the ingredient Praventin, a bioactive protein rich in Lactoferrin. In several human studies, Praventin and Lactoferrin have been shown to reduce the development of the bacteria responsible for many skin impurities, helping prevent the formation of blemishes and spots due to its antimicrobial effects.

Acne is usually thought of as a teenage problem but increasingly women in their late twenties, thirties and forties are suffering, with a third reporting that they still get spots.

Works With Water Founder Jules Birch said: "Praventin has been shown to be highly effective in improving the complexion from the inside out and works in two ways.

"Firstly it inhibits the development of the propionibacterium that is present on most people's skin, and responsible for many skin impurities and acnes, lessening the number of new spots forming.

"Secondly, its anti-inflammatory properties mean that the size of spots is reduced and blemishes heal quicker resulting in a smoother complexion.

"By adding it to a spring water formulation we have created a product that helps hydrate and heal skin from the inside."

The effects of dietary supplementation with praventin have been proven in studies with teenage consumers with a median decrease of complexion blemishes by 71% after one month and 95% after two months.

In the studies subjects took 200mg of Praventin each day. Beauty contains 100mg, half of the recommended daily amount.

Beauty also contains 200:1 high extract Aloe Vera which has an antimicrobial and nourishing effect on the skin.

DKSH Great Britain Food & Ingredients Business Manager Kavan Ranasinghe said: "Bioactive peptides are a new area of research within both the food and cosmetics industries and the functionality of Praventin combines these two areas perfectly.

"We strongly believe that this will be the year that cosmaceutical products finally come of age.

"Works With Water's Beauty water is a fantastic example, combining great design with real functionality, something not seen before within this sector in the UK."