Recently, Announcement No. 7 of 2025 issued by the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China officially approved olive fruit polyphenols as a novel food ingredient. Derived from olive fruits, this polyphenol-rich raw material features a differentiated positioning of oral sun protection. It brings fresh development prospects to the booming oral beauty market and is expected to create a new billion-yuan niche segment.

Olive fruit polyphenols are extracted from olive fruits, with core active constituents including verbascoside, hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein and various other polyphenolic compounds. Existing scientific studies have verified its potential research value in multiple fields such as cutaneous photoprotection, metabolic health, cognitive maintenance and cardiovascular care, among which oral sun protection has attracted the greatest industry attention.

The rapid rise of the oral sun protection segment stems from the comprehensive upgrade of public sun awareness. Statistics show that China’s sunscreen cosmetics market reached 29.78 billion yuan in 2024, while the sun-protective apparel market exceeded 80 billion yuan, with sun-protective clothing accounting for over half of the total share. Sun protection has evolved from a seasonal summer demand into an all-year-round daily necessity for consumers. The market triumph of ingredients like hyaluronic acid and collagen peptides has validated the commercial logic of internal oral beauty nourishment, allowing the industry to foresee enormous market potential for oral sun protection. Olive fruit polyphenols are regarded as a highly competitive candidate ingredient in this field.

Solid scientific research underpins the application of olive fruit polyphenols for oral sun care. A study published in Cell Physiology in 2018 elaborated its multi-fold mechanisms against skin photoaging: it curbs blue light-triggered reactive oxygen species accumulation and oxidative stress; inhibits the activity of MMP-1 and MMP-12 to slow the breakdown of collagen and elastin; sustains the level of type I collagen to preserve the structural integrity of the dermal matrix; alleviates DNA damage and regulates PCNA expression. In addition, numerous trials and clinical researches demonstrate its potential to raise the skin’s tolerance threshold against ultraviolet radiation and relieve UV-induced lipid peroxidation damage to the skin.

Furthermore, olive-derived ingredients have long been widely adopted in China’s skincare market. Many well-known brands including DHC, Pechoin and Proya have launched olive-infused skincare products. Consumers already possess established awareness of olive’s skincare benefits, greatly lowering the market education cost for the shift of olive fruit polyphenols to oral formulations.

On the global stage, olive-based raw materials have formed a diversified product portfolio with varied development priorities across regions. The European and American markets focus primarily on immune regulation and cardiovascular health, predominantly adopting olive leaf extracts. Brands such as NOW and Gaia Herbs have launched capsule supplements targeting free radical scavenging, cardiovascular protection and immune support.

Japan and South Korea took the lead in exploring oral beauty and oral sun protection. Brands including DHC and Kordel’s Sakura have rolled out dietary supplements blended with olive fruits, olive leaves and olive oil, catering to oral beauty demands such as skin brightening, collagen synthesis and photoprotection. South Korea has also introduced olive-lemon nutrition sticks that combine immune maintenance and internal skincare benefits.

Previously, most olive dietary supplements available in China entered the market via cross-border channels, mostly in capsule form. The official approval of olive fruit polyphenols as a novel food ingredient has completely removed regulatory barriers for its domestic industrialization. It is reported that the applicant enterprise has conducted preliminary cooperation negotiations with numerous food and wellness brands; liquid drinks, tablets and capsules are currently the most inquired product formats.

The newly approved olive fruit polyphenols are sourced from olives cultivated in Italy, with total polyphenol content exceeding 10% and abundant verbascoside as the marker compound. Supported by extensive clinical research data, it lays a solid foundation for subsequent product development.

Industry analysts state that the novel food ingredient approval merely marks the starting point of industrial development. Oral sun protection remains an emerging niche area. Raw material manufacturers and consumer brands still need continuous exploration and refinement to select appropriate dosage forms, align products with genuine consumer demands and realize successful commercialization. Driven by favorable regulatory policies, olive fruit polyphenols are poised to become a new growth driver within the oral beauty industry.

Disclaimer: This article serves as industrial market analysis only. Relevant effects are derived from scientific literature. Olive fruit polyphenols are classified as a novel food ingredient; they cannot replace topical sunscreen products or pharmaceutical medicines.

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