Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a herb of the genus Safflower in the asteraceae family, it is known as grass safflower, spiny safflower, Crocus, and golden safflower. Safflower is mainly produced in Henan, Zhejiang, Sichuan and other places. The traditional Chinese medicine is a dry tubular flower with red flowers without ovary. Cosmetics ingredients are made of dried flowers.

Safflower contains lots of active ingredients, such as: Flavonoids, fatty acids, volatile oils, safflower polysaccharides, polyphenols, amino acids, proteins, fats, vitamins, trace elements, carotenoside, steroids and adenosine.

The fatty acids are mainly linoleic acid, with a content of up to 80%, so safflower is known as the "king of linoleic acid", in addition to palmitic acid, myristate acid, lauric acid, dipalmitic acid and oleic acid. Safflower seed with high oil content, generally 23% ~ 46%.

Safflower polysaccharide is a kind of polysaccharide body which is connected by β bond of glucose, xylose, arabinose and lactose.

Polyphenols include chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, catechol, pyrocatechol and dopa.

Application in cosmetics

The natural pigments safflower yellow pigment and safflower red pigment extracted from safflower are safe and edible, which can be used as dyeing agents for high-end cosmetics, and have anti-cancer, antibacterial, detoxification, antihypertensive and skin care effects on the human body. For example, the use of pure and tasteless Xinjiang safflower pigment and safflower oil to produce high-quality lipstick.

As safflower extract has a wide range of biochemical activities, it has the functions of activating blood circulation, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, etc. It also can be added into skin care products such as cream, facial mask, facial cleanser, etc. By improving skin blood circulation, promoting skin metabolism, clearing free radicals, inhibiting melanin deposition, accelerating freckle and decolorization, absorbing ultraviolet rays, etc., it exerts whitening, sunscreen and anti-aging effects. It also has therapeutic effect on contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, pruritus and neurodermatitis.

Safflower seed oil can be used as an oily raw material for cosmetics to supplement a variety of nutrients in the skin.