Givaudan Active Beauty has launched Siliphos, a natural alternative to retinoids designed to be suitable for delicate skin.

Siliphos is extracted by green fractionation from milk thistle fruits and powered by Phytosome technology.

The Swiss firm says the new active ingredient outperforms the plant-based retinol alternative bakuchiol while offering benefits that challenge retinoid efficacy by reducing wrinkles without side effects.

The well-ageing performance of Siliphos was tested in a clinical study on volunteers presenting crow’s feet and forehead wrinkles.

Crow’s feet wrinkles were reduced twofold and overall facial wrinkles by 2.3 times after 56 days versus a placebo.

Tests also demonstrated Siliphos to significantly outperform bakuchiol by reducing the number of forehead wrinkles by 21.2% and the circumference of forehead wrinkles by 17.4% after 56 days.

“Siliphos is the first natural alternative to retinoids and bakuchiol capable of providing well-ageing benefits comparable to retinol,” said Giada Maramaldi, Botanical Actives Category Manager for Givaudan Active Beauty.

“Extracted from Silybum marianum Gaertn fruit, it acts directly on collagen production to provide a natural, safe and efficient skincare solution, suitable for even most delicate skins,” she added.