Why saffron-based beauty products belong in your skincare routine
Saffron’s making a glowing comeback. Harvested by hand from the threads of the saffron crocus flower, this precious spice, revered for its vibrant colour and unique aroma, has been used around the world for thousands of years, not just in food and as a colouring agent but also in beauty rituals; think Cleopatra’s saffron-infused milk baths to its use in Ayurvedic medicine, saffron has long been used as an ingredient in self-care. Said to have antioxidant-rich and skin-brightening properties, the ingredient is found in serums, creams and face masks, bringing centuries-old traditions into today’s clean beauty dialogue.
Here, Tatler rounds up some of the best saffron beauty products to shop now.
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House of M Beauty’s Saffron Silk Night Concentrate
California-based House of M Beauty was founded in 2019 by Anne Nguyen Oliver, who discovered the benefits of saffron after struggling to find a serum for her sensitive, post-partum skin.
As a result, House of M Beauty offers several saffron-infused skincare products, such as the Saffron Silk Night Concentrate, which contains saffron extract, algae and a blend of AHAs and is said to provide hydration. Doubling as an overnight sleeping mask, it promises to leave you with brighter, plumper skin the next morning. House of M Beauty is the first Vietnamese-owned brand to launch at the US department store Nordstrom.
Sisley’s Velvet Nourishing Cream with Saffron Flowers
Sisley’s Velvet Nourishing Body Cream with saffron flowers has a honey and orange scent—the sweetest way to start your summer season right. Formulated with a combination of shea butter, saffron extract and natural oils, this cream has a non-greasy finish that is designed to soften and soothe dry skin.
Ranavat’s Brightening Serum
Inspired by the rituals she grew up with, Indian American Michelle Ranavat launched her namesake brand in California in 2017 to bring high-quality, Ayurvedic-inspired skincare to a modern audience. Saffron plays a key role in several of the brand’s bestsellers, including its Brightening Serum, which aims to leave your skin with a radiant glow while reducing the appearance of fine lines.
Uma Oils’ Ultimate Brightening Face Mask
Indian American Shrankhla Holecek founded Uma Oils in California in 2016 with the goal of bringing the rituals and traditions of Ayurveda beauty to a wider audience. Perfect for a mid-week pick-me-up, the brand’s Ultimate Brightening Face Mask refreshes dry and dull skin with a combination of saffron and sandalwood that can even out skin tone. The calming ingredients are perfect for sensitive or irritated skin.
Korres’s Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir
Founded in 1996, Korres is a Greek skincare and cosmetics brand renowned for its use of safe and natural ingredients as well as for its dedication to sustainable practices. Many of its ingredients are sourced from Greece. Its Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir is a serum that is said to reinvigorate the skin, leaving it with a plumped, radiant appearance.
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