It’s hard to keep up with all the ingredients touted as ‘the next big thing’ in the worlds of beauty and wellness. But when the noise is backed up by science and the experts are raving about it — you know it’s time to listen. And right now, saffron has nutritionists buzzing for its mood-boosting qualities, having steadily emerged as a key ingredient in supplements — and it’s gaining some prominence in topical skincare too.
Most of us know saffron as the pricey cooking spice which with a potent flavour. The tiny strands are stigmas from the flower of Crocus sativus. It’s nothing new in the world of wellness, having been used medicinally for millennia and for centuries in Ayurveda (traditional Indian and Sri Lankan medicine), as it’s a powerful antioxidant with three bioactive compounds (croci, safranal and picrocrocin) — each of which has differing health benefits.
