Muttenz, April 19, 2018 – Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, announces the launch of its ground-breaking active skin care ingredient, B-Circadin, to fight the effects of skin damage caused by disruption to the skin’s circadian rhythm, frequently altered by stressors in daily life. Developed by Clariant Active Ingredients, B-Circadin maintains the vital synchronization of the skin’s circadian cycle, rapidly improving the complexion while decreasing puffiness and dark circles. B-Circadin will be showcased through Rhythm n’ Blue Serum sheet mask at the in-cosmestics show in Amsterdam from April 17-19.

Inspired by the work of the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, awarded for discoveries on how molecular mechanisms control the circadian rhythm, Clariant Active Ingredients and its partner, BioSpectrum, have further advanced the knowledge of both the biological responses to this critical cycle and what occurs when it is disrupted.

The body is regulated by a global circadian rhythm, or, 24-hour biological clock. According to day and night cycles, it controls our physiological behaviour and metabolism, synthesizes molecules and hormones, and regulates our sleep patterns and appetite. While primarily regulated by the brain, skin cells also possess their own circadian rhythm governing major biological responses which are known to follow this 24-hour clock. Such responses include aquaporin-3, which allows the transportation of water and glycerol involved in the maintenance of epidermal hydration. Skin cells also have an efficient detoxification mechanism called the Nrf2 pathway to eliminate free radicals. It is one of the most important detoxification pathways in the body and is also regulated by the circadian rhythm. Normally activated when protection is needed, the pathway plays a major role in the anti-oxidant defense mechanism that helps detoxify the skin. When the cells’ circadian rhythm is desynchronized and under too much stress, they become overwhelmed and the detoxification pathway becomes less efficient.

Stress, jetlag, shift working hours, intense lifestyles and even exposure to blue light emissions from ubiquitous electronic devices such as laptops, tablets and mobile phones, disrupt the body’s circadian clock, which leads to the deregulation of the skin’s circadian rhythm. Skin shows signs of fatigue and is more prone to aggressions.

“B-Circadin is major leap forward in the development of innovative ingredients to protect skin from the stressors of modern living”, commented Alexandre Lapeyre, Global Technical Marketing Manager, Clariant Active Ingredients Business. “With the increasing usage of digital devices showing no signs of abating and the demands of the working environment meaning extended or unusal working hours, we believe B-Circadin will issue a real breakthrough in the treatment of dull, tired skin, improving its overall well-being.”

B-Circadin is extracted from the Lespedeza Capitata plant, grown and harvested in South Korea where it is used for its medicinal properties. The circadian cycle regulating human skin also regulates the rhythm of certain plants, accounting for those leaves and flowers opening during daytime and closing at night. Containing two key glycosylated flavonoids directly involved in circadian clock maintenance - carlinoside and isoschaftoside - B-Circadin emulates the ability to resynchronize the circadian cycle within the skin cells, to regulate rhythm-dependent biological functions such as aquaporin-3 and Nrf2 pathway detoxification efficacy. On a unique synchronized skin model, when exposed to blue light as a stressor to deregulate the circadian rhythm, essential biological functions were seen to be improved. B-Circadin also blocks the direct oxidative stress induced by blue light radiating from digital screens.

In two double blind clinical studies, Clariant Active Ingredients studied the impact of a deregulated circadian cycle on skin properties. With volunteers working at night, so having their biological rhythms disrupted, a cream containing 3% B-Circadin was applied to one half of the face and a placebo to the other half, for 28 days. After only a week, volunteers saw their complexion visibly upgraded by over 17% compared to the placebo - and by 4 weeks, upwards of 35%. In another study over a much shorter 4-day period, volunteers applied a cream along with a placebo every day. During this study, they were exposed nightly to the blue light effect from a tablet in order to induce sleep perturbation. After the 4 days, eye contour was noticably improved and puffiness decreased, with B-Circadin guarding the skin’s well-being.

B-Circadin and the effects of the circadian rhythm can be experienced at in-cosmetics 2018, where Clariant Active Ingredients will be demonstrating the circadian cycle via augmented reality on its booth H90, as well as being part of the eagerly anticipated Innovation Zone. Alexandre Lapeyre, Global Technical Marketing Manager, Clariant Active Ingredients, delivered an innovation lecture on April 18. Additionally, Clariant Active Ingredients will be participating in the in-cosmetics special R&D tour.

B-Circadin is already being recognised for its effectiveness and uniqueness. Recently winning the Bronze Award at the 16th BSB European Innovation Prize for cosmetics, natural products and chemical raw materials held in Amsterdam on April 17, it has also been shortlisted for the in-cosmetics Innovation Best Ingredients Awards with the ceremony taking place on April 18.