Sun’Chronize®

Ingredient
Sourcing
Science
Recommended dose, claims & application

Ingredient

INCI

Crocus sativus flower extract

Composition

Total polyphenols (Folin, on dry) ≥ 8%
Total glycosylated flavonoids (on dry) ≥ 5%

Description

Upcycled from hand-harvested French saffron flowers, Sun’Chronize® helps restore the skin’s natural circadian rhythm, protecting against imbalances caused by sun exposure and blue light. With its rich content of polyphenols and glycosylated flavonoids, it delivers strong antioxidant defense, strengthens the skin barrier, and prevents UV-induced aging, making it an ideal active for sun care products, day creams, and night creams.

Dosage form or appearance

Amber brown liquid extract

Sourcing

Saffron flowers are harvested in the dry and charming lands of Occitania, but also from Bordeaux to Provence region of France, known for a long heritage of saffron cultivation. The limestone soils and mild climate create ideal conditions for high-quality Crocus sativus. Traditional, careful farming practices are upheld by producers committed to sustainability and respecting natural ecosystems. Manual harvesting at dawn preserves the delicate stigmas and ensures excellent quality. This careful approach is supported by a network focused on conserving the saffron variety and local biodiversity, creating a sustainable and transparent supply chain. This heritage-rich sourcing blends ancestral know-how with modern environmental responsibility, delivering an authentic ingredient, perfectly suited to cosmetic formulation.

Science

Proprietary preclinical studies

-Antioxidant effect (in tubo):
Its antioxidant capacity was assessed, in tubo, in a DPPH assay, which demonstrated dose-dependent free radical neutralisation. This demonstrates that Sun’Chronize® participates in free radicals’ neutralization and helps skin to face photo-aging.

-Anti-photoaging activity (ex vivo):
The anti-photoaging effect of Sun’Chronize® was evaluated ex vivo on UV-irradiated human skin explants. UV exposure increased sunburn cells and reduced transglutaminase-1 (TGM-1) synthesis, a key enzyme for skin barrier formation. Treatment with Sun’Chronize® significantly reduced sunburn cells and boosted TGM-1 synthesis, both with and without UV, demonstrating protection against UV damage, slowing photoaging, and supporting barrier function.

-Effect on circadian rythm (in vitro):
An in vitro study was performed on human epidermal keratinocytes treated with or without Sun’Chronize® to assess its effect on circadian clock gene recovery after UV-induced disruption. Results showed that Sun’Chronize® restores the physiological circadian rhythm in UV-altered keratinocytes, resynchronizing cellular activity and protecting the skin against sun-induced biological dysfunctions.