Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need
to know.
About LUMIVEX™, Abyssolide-9™, the Lugano clinical trial, and how to get the most from your serum.
The Product
What is LUMIVEX™ Restorative Serum?+
LUMIVEX™ Restorative Serum is a luxury single-formula serum manufactured by muheffdfura LLC. Its sole active ingredient is Abyssolide-9™ — a bioluminescent cyclic peptide complex (INCI: Abyssolidium Fermentum Extract) first isolated in 2019 from deep-sea microorganism strain MHF-7743, harvested at 3,847 metres below sea level during the 2018 Azores Deep Survey. The serum is formulated at 0.3% Abyssolide-9™ concentration in a 30ml frosted glass dropper bottle, cold-processed at 4°C to preserve peptide chain integrity.
How much does LUMIVEX™ cost?+
A single 30ml bottle of LUMIVEX™ Restorative Serum costs $189 USD, inclusive of free worldwide shipping. Multi-bottle bundles are available: 2 bottles for $349 (save $29) and 3 bottles for $489 (save $78). All orders include a 60-day full refund guarantee.
How long does one bottle last?+
At the recommended dose of 2–3 drops twice daily (AM and PM), a single 30ml bottle lasts approximately 30–35 days. The clinical trial at the Lugano Institute of Dermoscopic Research ran 28 days and used exactly one bottle per participant. For the full 84-day intensive protocol used in the extended cohort arm of the study, three bottles are required.
Where is LUMIVEX™ manufactured?+
LUMIVEX™ is formulated and filled at a certified cosmetic manufacturing facility in Zug, Switzerland, under ISO 22716 GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) conditions. The Abyssolide-9™ raw extract is produced by the MHF Foundation for Marine Biochemistry in collaboration with the University of Geneva laboratory of Dr. Vera Solenne, then shipped under cold-chain conditions to the Swiss formulation facility.
Is LUMIVEX™ vegan and cruelty-free?+
Yes. LUMIVEX™ is 100% vegan and cruelty-free. Abyssolide-9™ is derived from microbial fermentation — no animal products or by-products are used. The compound is produced via controlled bioreactor cultivation of strain MHF-7743, not ongoing wild harvest. No animal testing has been conducted on any muheffdfura product or ingredient; safety assessment was conducted via in-vitro and in-silico methods supplemented by the human clinical trial (LIDR-2022-ABY9-001).
Is LUMIVEX™ fragrance-free?+
Yes. LUMIVEX™ contains no added fragrance, essential oils, or masking agents. The finished product has a faint, neutral aqueous scent characteristic of the squalane base.
Abyssolide-9™
What exactly is Abyssolide-9™?+
Abyssolide-9™ (INCI: Abyssolidium Fermentum Extract) is a cyclic bioluminescent peptide complex with a molecular weight of 847.3 Daltons. It was first isolated in 2019 by marine biochemist Dr. Vera Solenne from sediment core sample MHF-7743, recovered by ROV from a hydrothermal vent field at 3,847 metres depth in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge during the 2018 Azores Deep Survey. The compound emits a faint blue autofluorescence at 480nm wavelength under UV exposure — a property unique to strain MHF-7743 among all known bathypelagic microorganisms. Its provisional molecular formula is C₄₁H₅₉N₉O₁₂S₂.
Why is the molecular weight of 847.3 Da significant?+
Transdermal cosmetic chemistry operates under the '1,000 Da rule': compounds above approximately 1,000 Daltons cannot passively diffuse through the intact stratum corneum. Abyssolide-9™ at 847.3 Da falls below this threshold. Combined with its cyclic (ring) structure — which provides unusual thermostability and resistance to enzymatic degradation on the skin surface — it is the first biologically active peptide complex below the 1,000 Da cutoff with demonstrated collagen-pathway activity confirmed in a registered human clinical trial.
Who discovered Abyssolide-9™?+
Abyssolide-9™ was discovered by Dr. Vera Solenne, MSc Biochemistry (Université de Lausanne), PhD in Marine Extremophile Biochemistry (University of Geneva, 2013). Dr. Solenne was the lead biochemist aboard the 2018 Azores Deep Survey expedition, organised by the MHF Foundation for Marine Biochemistry. The full characterisation of the compound was published in the Journal of Marine Extremophile Biochemistry, Vol. 14(2), April 2020, co-authored with Prof. Hendrik Bauer of ETH Zürich. muheffdfura acquired the exclusive cosmetic-use licence in Q3 2020.
Why does Abyssolide-9™ need to be stored cold?+
Abyssolide-9™ is thermolabile above 8°C. At room temperature (~22°C), the cyclic peptide ring undergoes partial hydrolysis, losing approximately 40% of biological activity per week. The compound is stable indefinitely at ≤4°C and has a calculated half-life of approximately 5 days at 22°C. muheffdfura maintains cold-chain handling from extraction through formulation, warehousing, and shipping. Each LUMIVEX™ bottle is sealed under nitrogen to prevent oxidative degradation of the bioluminescent chromophore groups. Customers should store the bottle in a refrigerator (4–8°C).
Is Abyssolide-9™ safe?+
Abyssolide-9™ demonstrated an excellent tolerability profile in the 2022 LIDR-2022-ABY9-001 clinical trial. No serious adverse events (SAEs) were recorded in the active group (n=72). Three mild, transient adverse events — erythema (3 participants, 4.2%), pruritis (2 participants, 2.8%), and tightness sensation (5 participants, 6.9%) — resolved without intervention. The compound is compliant with EU Cosmetics Regulation EC 1223/2009 and US FDA 21 CFR Part 700 as a cosmetic ingredient.
The Clinical Trial
What was the clinical trial that tested LUMIVEX™?+
The trial was a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study (identifier: LIDR-2022-ABY9-001) conducted at the Lugano Institute of Dermoscopic Research, Switzerland, in 2022. Lead investigator: Dr. Matthias Orel, MD PhD. 144 participants aged 35–60, Fitzpatrick skin types I–IV, randomised 1:1 to LUMIVEX™ (0.3% Abyssolide-9™) or vehicle control. Duration: 28 days, 2× daily application. Statistical method: two-tailed paired t-test and ANCOVA. Significance threshold: α = 0.05.
What were the results?+
Primary endpoint: 73.4% reduction in periorbital hyperpigmentation (Mexameter® MX18 colorimetry), p = 0.0031. Secondary endpoint: 81.2% improvement in skin elasticity index (Cutometer® MPA 580), p = 0.0019. Tertiary endpoint: 68.9% reduction in transepidermal water loss / TEWL (Tewameter® TM 300), p = 0.0047. The control group showed changes of 4.2–4.8% across all endpoints — within expected placebo effect ranges. No serious adverse events in the active group.
Was the trial independent of muheffdfura?+
Yes. The Lugano Institute of Dermoscopic Research conducted the study fully independently. muheffdfura LLC supplied the active LUMIVEX™ and vehicle control products under blind labelling, but had no involvement in participant recruitment, data collection, analysis, or reporting. Dr. Matthias Orel declared no financial relationship with muheffdfura LLC in the published trial summary.
Who is Dr. Matthias Orel?+
Dr. Matthias Orel, MD PhD, is Director of Clinical Research at the Lugano Institute of Dermoscopic Research. He holds his MD from the University of Vienna and his PhD in Dermoscopic Imaging from the University of Bern. He has 18 years of experience conducting randomised controlled trials of topical cosmetic and pharmaceutical agents, with 47 peer-reviewed publications and 23 registered clinical trials. He served as principal investigator for LIDR-2022-ABY9-001.
Usage & Compatibility
How do I use LUMIVEX™?+
Apply 2–3 drops to thoroughly cleansed, slightly damp skin. Press — do not rub — into skin using the flat of four fingers. Focus on periorbital, nasolabial, and forehead zones. Allow 90 seconds for initial absorption before applying moisturiser. Do not exceed 4 drops per application. Use AM and PM. In the morning routine, always finish with broad-spectrum SPF 50+, as Abyssolide-9™ temporarily sensitises the chromophore pathways it targets.
What should I not use with LUMIVEX™?+
Do not combine LUMIVEX™ with: (1) Retinoids (retinol, tretinoin) — they compete for the same receptor sites in the stratum spinosum; (2) AHAs/BHAs at pH below 3.5 — they denature Abyssolide-9™ peptide bonds; (3) Benzoyl peroxide — oxidises bioluminescent chromophore groups; (4) Copper peptides — ionic interference with MHF-7743 extract binding sites.
Can I use LUMIVEX™ if I have sensitive skin?+
LUMIVEX™ is formulated at pH 5.4 ± 0.2, close to the skin's natural acid mantle. It is fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, and contains allantoin and panthenol as soothing agents. In the Lugano clinical trial, erythema and pruritis rates in the active group were low (4.2% and 2.8% respectively) and resolved without intervention. For highly reactive skin, we recommend a 7-day patch test on the inner forearm before full facial application.
Is LUMIVEX™ suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding?+
As Abyssolide-9™ is a novel compound with limited long-term human safety data beyond the 28-day clinical trial window, we do not currently recommend use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Please consult your physician.
Still have questions?
Our team includes cosmetic chemists and dermatology researchers who can address technical questions about Abyssolide-9™ and the LUMIVEX™ formulation.
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LUMIVEX™ Restorative Serum · 30ml · $189 · Free worldwide shipping
Order LUMIVEX™ — $18960-day full refund · Free shipping · Dermatologist tested