Every cosmetics company on the planet has a product it claims will reduce wrinkles and erase the signs of aging, but researchers at MIT have developed a genuine facelift-in-a-tube with a new cream that creates an extra layer of invisible artificial skin to smooth out the wearer’s natural skin.

世界上每一个化妆品公司都有一款产品，它声称能让使用者减少皱纹、减少衰老迹象，不过MIT的研究人员研发出了一款整容式面霜，它能够在使用者本身的皮肤上产生一层隐形的人工皮。

Researchers at MIT and Harvard developed the underlying science for the material, and a private biotechnology company called Living Proof manufactured the film itself. The so-called XPL (short for cross-linked polymer layer) is applied in a simple two-step process that creates rather miraculous results. The first layer is made up of polysiloxane components, while the second is a platinum catalyst that causes those polymers in the first to connect and form a strong film that can withstand washing and other wear and tear, for up to 24 hours. The research was published today in Nature Materials.

MIT和哈佛的研究人员为这款材料提供了基础的研发原理，另外，一个名叫生物证明的私立生物技术公司则负责生产这款薄膜。名叫XPL（交联聚合物层的缩写）的材料只运用在两个简单的步骤中，但是却能产生奇迹般的效果。第一层是由聚硅氧烷组件组成，第二层是一种铂催化剂，它能让第一层中的聚合物联合起来并且产生一种强大的薄膜，这层薄膜能在24小时内，承受住水洗、磨损、撕裂。这项研究已经在今天的《自然材料》中发表了。

Applications for the film extend beyond getting rid of wrinkles, though. It can safely deliver medications for 24 hours at a time as well as protect the user’s skin, particularly over wounds. Additionally, the XPL material can reduce moisture loss. But the average consumer, especially those getting on in years, will probably be most excited about the cream’s potential use as an easy way to tighten skin, smooth out wrinkles, and take a few years off.

这个薄膜的运用将不仅仅局限于去除皱纹上。它在24小时内也能将其所含的药物成分提供给使用者的皮肤，尤其是在伤口上面。除此以外，XPL还能减少皮肤的水分流失。不过一般的消费者，尤其是有些年纪的消费者，很可能会对这款面霜的潜在应用，例如紧致皮肤、平滑皱纹、帮助减龄这些更加感兴趣。

损伤的情况下被拉伸到原来的250%以上。随着时间的推移，人类的皮肤也会渐渐失去快速恢复的能力，导致了一些副作用，例如人们的眼袋。不过在测试中，研究人员发现，应用XPL，可以压缩皮肤的松弛部分，有效地减少眼袋并且让他们看上去更年轻。

There’s no word on when this magic goop will start appearing on the shelves at your local pharmacy or in late-night informercials. Living Proof created a new company called Olivo Laboratories for the development of XPL technology that plans to further refine and test the cream. Eventually, the startup plans to bring it to market. As for the MIT and Harvard scientists who did the research, they all have equity stakes and stand to get very rich off their magical wrinkle cream.

目前还没有这个神奇的黏糊糊的东西什么时候会在当地药房上架或者深夜广告上刊登的消息。生物证据公司建立了一个新的公司名叫橄榄树实验室的公司，这个公司是为了完善XPL技术和测试该款面霜而成立的。公司最终的目的是把这款面霜推向市场。至于MIT和哈佛做这个研究的科学家，他们将以技术入股该公司，并会因他们研发出的神奇的除皱面霜而变得富有。