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Johnson & Johnson New Skin Care Products 2010

Johnson & Johnson launched new products based on completely new technologies 2010 for three of their brands. They are Aveeno Active Naturals Ageless Vitality Elasticity Recharging System, Neutrogena Clinical, and RoC Brilliance. The technology behind these new products is a two-part system containing ion-mineral conductors that, when activated by the companion moisturizer, create a positive electric micro-current on the skin, which, supposedly, promotes collagen and elastin levels.

It is quite complicated to present the whole idea behind this new technology. In short, (1) this concept is biologically plausible; (2) there is no independent research supporting it; (3) company sponsored researches have been presented in annual meetings of the American Academy of Dermatology, which showed impressive results demonstrating its effectiveness.

The human body is a bio-electrical system, including the skin. The concept of "skin battery" has been dated back to the 1980s. Since then, there have been a lot of researches on electrical stimulation, mainly for the treatment of skin wounds. In 2007 annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, a research sponsored by Obagi demonstrated the effectiveness of a bi-mineral complex in improving photo-aged skin. They believe that some coordination minerals, such as copper and zinc, can thicken skin, improve elasticity, and increase the subcutaneous fat layer. I am surprised that Obagi did not patent this big finding (they did have a prescription-only product called ELASTIderm including the zinc and copper complex). The giant, Johnson & Johnson, instead, has worked over 2.5 years, evaluating this technology on more than 1,000 individuals/subjects in clinical and safety studies. And now they hold 10 U.S. patents active until 2023 and has multiple U.S. and international applications pending!

In 2010 annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, Johnson & Johnson presented the effectiveness of their bi-mineral complex in anti-inflammatory activity, extracellular matrix production in human skin explants, improvement of pigmentation, photo-aging and improvement of skin laxity. They got so much attention! Apparently, products based on this new technology have a strength in terms of skin tolerance. This means that it can be used for eyelids and skin around the eye area. Considering retinoid and AHA products often have a label "Avoid Eye Area", these new products are very promising.

Some reviewers suspect that Johnson & Johnson uses two-step systems just to make more money. I never talked with anyone working on this, asking them why they used two-step systems. But from how I understand this, I think a two-step system is very plausible. The zinc and copper should be stable in the first-step gel. Then you apply the second-step cream, which performs as a conductor to activate the exchange of electrons. If they put everything together in one bottle, then zinc and copper has already exchanged electrons before you apply them. So I think a two-step system is a smart way to make this process effective on your skin.

Now, after all the excitement about this new technology, I do have one concern. I hope that Johnson & Johnson will answer it some day. How will these products affect the skin's own bio-electrical activity? Once I stop using them, will my skin's natural bio-electrical activity be paralyzed and my skin turn worse?

Monday, July 19, 2010

JNJ: Johnson & Johnson's Stock Returns Reveiwed


Most of us use some form of Johnson & Johnson's products regularly in our daily life. Tylenol, Band-Aid, Motrin, and Listerine are some of the many trademarked products offered by Johnson and Johnson (JNJ). As a result of its household practicality and deeply ingrained name recognition, JNJ has also been a very popular stock holding. Fortunately, for shareholders, it has performed very well over the last quarter century. In fact, $10,000 invested in Johnson & Johnson at the beginning of 1975 would have grown to over $391,000 at the end of 2006, not even including any dividends or spinoffs that may have occurred.

Since 1975, Johnson & Johnson has had 22 years of positive returns and 10 years of negative returns. The best returning years for JNJ stock were 1991, 1995, and 1985, earning 60%, 56%, and 46% respectively. Conversely, the worst performing years for JNJ stock were 1983, 1976, and 1993, with the losses for the year being 18%, 13%, and 12% respectively. The growth of Johnson & Johnson's stock over the last quarter century has resulted in five stock splits with the last one being a 2 for 1 split in June of 2001.

Johnson & Johnson is one of the 30 stocks that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA). However, JNJ's yearly returns are not as closely correlated with the overall DJIA movements as other stocks in the widely followed index. For example, General Electric (GE), has moved in the same direction of the Dow Jones nearly 94% of the time since 1975. Johnson & Johnson, on the other hand, has moved in the same direction as the DJIA a little under 72% of the time during that same time period. In fact, 9 of the 32 years since 1975, JNJ has moved in the opposite direction of the overall Dow Jones Industrial Average. Moving forward, I expect Johnson & Johnson to continue to steadily grow in the future as the usage of its dominant brand name products continue to grow along with the population. Of course, as always, do your own due diligence before making any investment decisions.

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A Description of the Vistakon, a Division of Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson is a global American pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer packaged goods manufacturer founded in 1886. The Vistakon is a division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc, which specializes in producing disposable contact lenses. ACUVUE, HYDRACLEAR, ASTIGMATISM and ADVANCE, etc. are brand names that sell different disposable contact lenses under the Vistakon.

Different products of Acuvue series are equipped with different features, that applicable to different needs of different people. Let's take Acuvue Oasys for example:

Acuvue Oasys contact lens specially works for dry eyes. With it, a wearer feels fresh and comfortable even without removal, cleanness and storage for several days. What is more, Acuvue Oasys applies a unique technology helping to make the structure more stable and leveraging the natural pressure between eyelids. Therefore, when eyeball moves, the lens is able to keep firm on the eyeball, no discomfort caused.

The fact is not only Acuvue Oasys has the property of moist retain, all the Acuvue family have the same alike property. Why? Because their basic component is senofilcon A, or say silicone hydro gel. It is a newly emerged generation, not only keeping moisture, but also providing the users a comfortable, silky feel. This is why many people who have ever worn Acuvue would state that Acuvue contact lenses escape them from tired eyes.

Besides the property of moisture retaining, the ability of oxygen permeability is greatly enhanced, which is rather helpful for the eye health. This is also one of the reasons why Acuvue family contacts specially work for dry eyes and tired eyes.

The feature of UV protection can be found in the astigmatism range of lenses, which is supposed to block more than 96% and 99% of UVB and UVA rays. This should be the maximum protection from UV rays of contact lenses as that of sunglasses.

Owing to all those distinctive features and technology, Acuvue product is a hot seller in the market.

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