Red clover is the botanical at the centre of Minerva108's skin care range. It appears across our night cream, day cream, serum, toner, eye cream, hand cream, lip balm and clay mask, which is why we built an entire collection around the same plant.
New to red clover? Start with What is red clover (Trifolium pratense)? for an introduction to the plant, its isoflavones and what the current evidence does and does not support for skin.
Why Anatolia
Trifolium pratense, commonly known as red clover, grows across the Anatolian countryside. The region has long been associated with the species and its genetic diversity, while red clover also has a place in Turkish folk tradition, where its flowers have historically been prepared as infusions.
We source our red clover from Anatolia and focus on the composition of the extract rather than treating the plant name alone as a measure of quality. Isoflavone content can vary with growing conditions, harvest timing and extraction method, so the profile of the finished extract matters as much as its origin.
What is actually in it
Red clover is a notable source of isoflavones within the legume family. Its two dominant compounds are formononetin and biochanin A. These methylated isoflavones are one of the main features that distinguish red clover from soy, where daidzein and genistein are more prominent.
The plant also contains other compounds, including clovamide, flavonols, coumestans and pterocarpans.
In the EU's CosIng cosmetic ingredient database, different red clover derivatives appear with declared cosmetic functions such as antioxidant, skin conditioning, emollient and astringent. CosIng is an ingredient inventory rather than an approval system, so an entry in the database should not be interpreted as evidence that the EU has approved a particular cosmetic benefit.
The research, without the overstatement
We do not think a signature ingredient should rely on marketing language alone. That is why we have written about the research in detail, including its limitations.
For example, the evidence on red clover and skin is still developing. There is no large, settled clinical literature comparable with better-established cosmetic ingredients, and some claims made online about red clover rely on studies of soy isoflavones rather than red clover itself.
The articles below look at the subject from different angles, from chemistry and formulation to skin research, safety and sourcing.
Start here
- Red Clover: The Anatolian Flower Science Keeps Coming Back To for a broader overview of the available research
- Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract: what the INCI name means for anyone who has encountered the ingredient on a cosmetic label
The chemistry
- The isoflavones in red clover covers formononetin, biochanin A and their relative concentrations
- Phytoestrogens 101 explains what the term means and where its limits are
- Red clover vs soy isoflavones explains why the two plants should not be treated as chemically interchangeable
Skin and use
- Red clover and skin: what the science actually supports
- Cream or capsule? looks at why topical and oral use need to be considered separately
- Kırmızı yonca çayı ve cilt examines common claims about red clover tea in Turkish
- Red clover and menopause reviews what the meta-analyses report
Safety and choosing well
- Side effects, and who should be cautious
- Medication interactions
- How to choose a red clover product explains standardisation and why the composition of an extract matters
Where ours comes from
- Trifolium pratense: from Anatolia to formula
- Our certifications covers PETA Approved status, ISO 22716 GMP and our other certifications
Shop red clover
Explore the complete range in our Skin Care collection, where our red clover formulas sit alongside the rest of the Minerva108 skin care range.
The articles linked here are for information and education. They are not medical advice, and Minerva108 cosmetic products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.