TAGS: Sustainability / Natural Cosmetics Skin Care
Clariant harnesses Korea’s Jeju Island’s much-revered flower’s secret for healthy-looking and resilient skin. Clariant draws out a unique variety of flower extract from the Camellia japonica on Jeju blooming at the end of winters. Clariant named this active ingredient RedSnow® as a reference to the bright flowers poking through the snowy blanket. The active ingredient is particularly rich in protocatechuic acid, a type of phenolic acid with strong antioxidant properties.
Camellia japonica, one of the most famous flowers in Korea, can be found around the country and more particularly on the island of Jeju. Dongbaek oil, made from the seeds of Camellia japonica, is rich in oleic acid, linoleic acid, and palmitic acid. These are known for their antioxidant and anti-irritant properties when used in skincare products.
Prevents Skin from Irritation & Aging
Camellia japonica is a hardy shrub that wears its fleshy green leaves all year but only puts on its floral dress for a few weeks at the end of winter.
Clariant has shown in extensive in-vitro and ex-vivo tests how RedSnow® can block aryl hydrocarbon receptors in skin cells. These are usually triggered by certain airborne pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals with particles smaller than ten or even 2.5 microns.
This way, RedSnow® can help prevent the production of free radicals that cause oxidative stress to the skin. In addition, it helps reduce the activation of MMP-1 genes and increases collagen production. All of this means that RedSnow® can help protect the skin not just from irritation, but also premature aging caused by pollution in urban and outdoor environments.
Airborne Pollutants & Their Skin Concern
Anti-pollution skincare is a hot topic, especially for affluent consumers in megacities across the region. Environmental factors such as airborne pollutants are a great concern since they are harmful to health and skin and can cause skin irritation as well as premature aging. RedSnow® is one of the answers to this growing issue.
Since 2016, Clariant’s Active Ingredients business unit has partnered with BioSpectrum, a Korean manufacturer renowned for its active ingredients derived from plants on Jeju. Camellia japonica is one of several plant species BioSpectrum and Clariant harvest there. All are sourced in accordance with the island's special status as a world heritage site and national park. Some products are even made from by-products of pruning.
As a result, RedSnow® combines much of what today’s consumers look for in an active ingredient with more sustainable, traditional, and scientifically proven effectiveness. A delicate flower conquering a harsh environment may also be the perfect metaphor for the resilience of beauty.
Source: Clariant
