A comforting hug for sensitive skin

There is no better sensation than feeling happy, confident and in harmony with ourselves. Consumers increasingly consider their emotional well-being as essential not only to mental health but also to physical health. Our state of mind, for instance, can significantly influence the appearance of our skin. Taking up the trend towards mood-targeted cosmetics and inspired by sacred Japanese beauty rituals, BASF has harnessed the power of the giant polysaccharide sacran, a precious Japanese algae extract, and incorporated this valuable ingredient into a molecular patch technology. Sacred Patch® helps to stimulate the release of the so called “tenderness neuropeptide” oxytocin. Furthermore, it provides an immediately perceptible uplift in the mood. At the same time, the active ingredient helps to soothe sensitive skin by contributing to the mitigation of pro-inflammatory responses. The innovative patch technology also has strong moisturisation properties that boost the exceptional water-attracting effect of sacran.

In Japan, the land of the Rising Sun, beauty, wellbeing and serenity have all been intrinsically linked for millennia. Many wellness rituals are linked to nature, the volcanic character of the country and ancestral medicine practices. Bathing in volcanic waters – thermal hot springs called “onsen” – is a millenniaold ritual and the epitome of relaxation and physical and mental health. The volcanic waters of Kyushu, the southernmost island in Japan, hide a well-kept secret: the underground waters of the active volcano Mount Aso are a rare and exceptional aquatic environment that fulfil the conditions to allow the growth of the blue-green alga Aphanothece sacrum or Suizenji Nori, as it is called in Japanese. This miraculous creature is made up of a single cell consisting of half-alga, half-bacteria, and belongs to the cyanobacteria, the first primitive organisms to bring oxygen to the Earth. The scientific name “sacrum”, which means “sacred” was given to the algae because of its excellent growing environment. Suizenji Nori is the only microalga that according to existing records has been cultured as a food source for more than 300 years.1 Rich in iron and calcium, Suizenji Nori is held in high esteem in Japan and is recognised as a national treasure. It is eaten as a delicacy, much like the truffle. But this alga is also prodigious for another reason: it is able to produce a giant polysaccharide called sacran. This molecule has a high molecular weight of over 107 g/mol.

Innovative patch technology for mood-targeted beauty