Cell-to-cell communicating ingredients created when a protein links with a carbohydrate. Glycoproteins play a critical role in the body in relation to how various systems recover from internal and external stresses. They also are fundamentally involved in cellular repair, among other functions. However, there is no evidence that they can affect wrinkles in any way when applied topically (Sources: www.glycoscience.com; www.anatomyatlases.org; and The Journal of Immunology, November 1, 2000, pages 5295–5303, and September 1991, pages 1614–1620). In addition, when glycoproteins are combined with saccharides they form substances that compose the skin’s intercellular matrix. This matrix keeps skin cells and the skin’s structure intact, with glycoprotein derivatives such as polysaccharides and glycosaminoglycans such as hyaluronic acid. See natural moisturizing factor (NMF) , mucopolysaccharide , protein