Corsets, bodices and padding frames, symbols of beauty past, are tucked away in the drawers of history and today, fashion adapts to the body's curves, embracing without squeezing. If clothing designers have transformed fashion, at Clariant, we asked ourselves ‘why shouldn’t scientists do the same to achieve beautiful skin’? So, we did, developing the natural active ingredient CycloRetin^™ – a new star at the forefront of an avant-garde movement of gentle beauty.

Performance, Naturalness, and Gentleness

Gentle beauty is shaped by new expectations and a changing landscape of skincare narratives. Gone are the days when it was acceptable for beauty to require sacrifices - today’s consumers expect performance, naturalness, and gentleness to go hand in hand. As the body’s largest organ, the skin requires special attention. Changing lifestyles, heightened stress levels and increased exposure to environmental factors have led to an increase in skin sensitivity and evolving skincare needs.

These developments have driven a shift in the approach to support healthy ageing. Retinol, for example, which is known to reduce wrinkles, fine lines and help maintain youthful skin, has been a favorite with skincare consumers since the 1970s. Yet its popularity is now facing a major challenge – unwanted irritation. This is where CycloRetin comes in. Derived from Prince Ginseng, an adaptogenic plant used in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 3000 years, it delivers the performance of retinol compounds without the compromise.

“We went to the Chinese valleys to harvest Prince Ginseng and from it, we extracted this new, naturally formulated cyclic peptide that improves collagen organization and skin structure which, according to tests, shows it is also free from any irritability. Highly effective even at low concentrations, peptides play a crucial role in supporting youthful skin appearance,” said Julie Droux, Global Technical Marketing Manager for Actives and Natural Origins.

Less is more

Laboratory results show effects in improving skin sagging, firmness, and increased radiance in 28 days. Notably, CycloRetin is as effective as retinol in enhancing skin appearance within 14 days. Thanks to its unique cyclic peptide content, CycloRetin boosts collagen by 133% while avoiding irritation. The active also has another great virtue: it can be used any time of day or night.

“Water-soluble and with a more stable formulation, our patented ingredient requires almost half the concentration of other market actives, delivering better cost-benefits. No pesticides or fertilizers are used in the production of Prince Ginseng and only green solvents are accepted in the extraction process, which has a traceable supply chain to the plant origin,” explained Droux.

All in all, CycloRetin brings impressive results using small quantities, in a short time frame. Cultivating an ethos of “less is more”, our solution embodies a commitment to both skin health and the sustainability of our planet’s resources.

™ TRADEMARK OF CLARIANT

www.clariant.com

Clariant is a focused specialty chemical company led by the overarching purpose of “Greater chemistry – between people and planet.” By connecting customer focus, innovation, and people the company creates solutions to foster sustainability in different industries. On 31 December 2023, Clariant totaled a staff number of 10 481 and recorded sales of CHF 4.377 billion in the fiscal year for its continuing businesses. Since January 2023, the Group conducts its business through the three Business Units Care Chemicals, Catalysts, and Adsorbents & Additives. Clariant is based in Switzerland.