Developed by Givaudan Active Beauty, Silybidiol is a botanical-based alternative to the iconic CBD (cannabidiol) molecule. The new active was designed to combat the harmful effects of urban photo-pollution.

Extracted with Green Fractionation from the fruit of the milk thistle (Silybum marianum), Silybidiol [1] offers a holistic approach to ageing, leveraging the emerging concept of OxInflammation, the vicious cycle connecting oxidative stress and inflammation.

Focus on prevention

Silybidiol promotes skin health by protecting it against the exposome - the set of extrinsic aggressors to which our skin is exposed.

Among other things, the exposome encompasses UV radiation and pollution, which disrupt the skin’s delicate OxInflammation balance - the interconnection of two key biological pathways. These factors can have a damaging cumulative effect on skin health and emotional balance.

According to Givaudan Active Beauty, Silybidiol binds to cannabinoid receptors in the skin and activates cellular crosstalk leading to the activation of skin defences and detoxification pathways to effectively maintain OxInflammation balance and promote wellbeing.

Clinical tests

Silybidiol was clinically tested versus placebo and CBD, on volunteers exposed to photo-pollution,.

According to Givaudan Active Beauty, it offers:

 A drastic improvement in skin homogeneity (2.7x better than CBD),
 Enhanced skin radiance (1.6x better than CBD),
 An improvement in volunteers’ wellbeing (equivalent to CBD).

"We discovered that Silybidiol specifically activates CB2 cannabinoid receptors and delivers the same benefits as the hero CBD molecule. As such, not only does it reduce inflammation, which improves skin tone, but it also stimulates the production of beta-endorphins, feel-good peptides that contribute to overall wellness," said Romain Reynaud, Research & Development Director at Givaudan Active Beauty.

Silybidiol is compatible with the vegan claim and is of 100% natural origin, as defined by the ISO 16128 standard.