The 6 Best Saffron Brands for Your Skin & Hair Reviews 2024

This potent spice is worth more than gold. It smells like damp hay and honey and turns food a rich golden color. Why would you want to use it for skin and hair care? Because it’s a powerful anti-aging ingredient packed with antioxidants and it fades hyperpigmentation, too. Ayurvedic medicine has been aware of its value for centuries, and now the Western world is clueing into it as well.

We researched the best saffron brands for your skin and hair because we want you to enjoy the benefits of the best saffron in the world. We also included saffron skin care products at the end of the reviews.

Let’s begin with how to use saffron for skin.

How to use saffron for skin and hair care

The principles of cooking with saffron are similar to using it for your skin and hair. For example, most people will grind a pinch of saffron into a powder then add it to 4 tablespoons of hot water and let it steep for 10 minutes.

The water will turn yellow and pick up the saffron aroma. After that, you can blend the water with other ingredients like sandalwood, honey, coconut oil, or your favorite moisturizer or hair conditioner. This method will make a limited supply of saffron stretch further.

Or instead of steeping the saffron in water, you can simply use the powdered spice directly with other ingredients to make a face mask or hair mask.

Another option is to soak a few strands of saffron in rose water or witch hazel for two days to make facial toner.

How do you grind saffron? The easiest method is with an electric grinder or food processor that’s equipped with the right function. However, it doesn’t take long to do with a mortar and pestle.

Why is saffron so expensive?

Crocus sativus, or saffron, was originally grown on the island of Crete in Greece, but it’s now raised in diverse places like Spain, Iran, Kashmir, and Afghanistan. The reason it costs so much is that it’s difficult to raise and must be harvested by hand during a two-week window once per year.

Each pretty little purple flower only produces three saffron strands, so it takes tens of thousands of plants to make one ounce of spice.

Why is saffron good for the skin and hair?

UV rays and pollution create oxidative stress that makes the skin and hair age faster. But saffron contains antioxidants that neutralize the problem and reduce inflammation. Therefore, it helps the skin stay firm while it brightens the complexion. It’s even safe for sensitive skin and it blends well with other beneficial ingredients like hyaluronic acid and plant oils.

Saffron also has antifungal benefits for the scalp and can promote glossy, stronger hair.

Lastly, saffron helps wounds heal faster, plus it keeps melanin from overproducing, which treats hyperpigmentation (1).

Which is the best saffron?

There are different grades of saffron. Most of what we reviewed is in the category of Super Negin, which is the most costly and rarest as it has the longest red threads with no yellow or orange bits.

The cheapest is Pushal which consists of the orange and yellow portions of the thread. It’s considered low-quality.

If you’re on a budget, look for Sargol or Negin as these are still aromatic although they contain orange and yellow threads and sometimes crumbs.

How to tell if the saffron is pure

Look at the saffron– does it consist of long red threads with little to no orange or yellow? Each thread should be about an inch to an inch and a half long.

If it’s damp, that’s a bad sign as the manufacturer may be trying to cheat by making the spice heavier with added water. The texture should be delicate and dry (2).

Speaking of water, the cold water test is the easiest way to check saffron’s purity and quality. Fill a clear glass with cold water and gently lay two threads of saffron on top. Wait 15 minutes and you should see the water has turned golden.

The important thing is to check how fast it turns color. Pure, premium saffron doesn’t release the yellow color immediately in cold water. The spice itself won’t change color and turn white.

If you lift the saffron from the water and rub it between your fingers, it shouldn’t fall apart easily.

Finally, if you are familiar with how saffron should smell and taste, you already know that it smells sweet like honey and hay, but doesn’t taste sweet.

How to keep saffron fresh

Now that you have saffron from one of the best brands in the world, here’s how to store it properly to keep it fresh.

Keep it in an airtight container stored in a cool, dry place
Close the container immediately after using the spice to keep it away from oxygen exposure and humidity
A smaller container is better

The shelf life is about two years.

The best saffron brands for your skin	Why we love them
Golden Saffron, Finest Pure Premium All Red Saffron Threads, Grade A+ Super Negin	Laboratory verified to have high levels of crocin, picocricin, and safranel Organically grown, non-GMO Project Verified Packed in a food-safe metal container with a twist-off lid From Crocus sativus plants grown in northeastern Iran
Mehr Saffron	Award-winning saffron prized by chefs All red stigmas, no yellow parts included Grown in Afghanistan Packed in a glass jar Comes with a money-back guarantee
SAFFRON, All Red Super Negin Grade A+ Premium by EXOTIC BioNaturals	Grown in Afghanistan on organic forms From an ISO-certified manufacturer Carries a high rating from the ITQI
Premium Pure Red Saffron Spice Threads \| Super Negin Grade \| by Vanilla Bean Kings	Organically grown in Afghanistan Triple-inspected for quality Meets or exceeds ISO 3632 standards Packaged in a food-grade metal container
UMA ULTIMATE BRIGHTENING FACE MASK	All-natural clay mask with saffron, no artificial ingredients Brightens the complexion, reduces discoloration Smooths fine lines, firms the skin
Shankara Kumkumadi Tailam Oil	Ayurvedic treatment that rejuvenates tired skin and fades discoloration Handmade with saffron, sandalwood, turmeric, licorice, and other botanicals Pleasant natural fragrance and luxurious texture