French luxury brand Yves Saint Laurent (L'Oréal) is launching Or Rouge (Red Gold), a new premium skin care range based on one of the world’s most expensive spices: saffron.
The saffron is a special strain from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, according to the company, and contains large amounts of a glycan called crocin, which the company claims has strong anti-ageing properties.
Glycans are said to play a role in the communication and metabolism of skin cells and to boost the ‘architecture’ of skin tissue. However, they reduce in quantity with age, causing the skin to deteriorate. YSL has combined crocin with another glycan called X-Glycan, to create a patented complex called Or Rouge GFC, which it claims reduces fine lines, wrinkles and dullness.
The packaging for the product, in sleek black and gold with a dipper, was created by French architect and interior designer Noé Duchaufour Lawrance, who has worked with the company on previous packaging designs.
Or Rouge will cost US$420 for a 50ml pot, $240 for a 15ml eye cream and $150 for a 200ml lotion. It is being launched in London as a Harrods exclusive in mid February, with a US pre-launch scheduled for mid March, when it will be launched on yslbeautyus.com before rolling out to selected doors around the world in April.