THE PLANT STEM CELL SECRET TO BEAUTIFUL SKIN
Sylvie Chantecaille, the founder of her eponymous French beauty brand, started her business based on one belief – that flowers have amazing healing potential. And that botanicals should star in her products.
The very first botanical she came across was Rose de Mai on a trip to Grasse in France. The scent captivated her, and the prized rose quickly became one of her favourite flowers. It’s why Rose de Mai rosewater is used in all her products.
But Sylvie didn’t fall in love only with the scent. The rose is rich in anti-inflammatory, anti-ageing and antioxidant properties, and keeps skin well-hydrated. It’s an extraordinary plant that also helps reduce sleeplessness and soothe headaches.
Flowers aside – and using them in her products – the founder decided it was important to include scientific innovation in her products too. The result: groundbreaking formulas that marry nature with science to soothe, hydrate and nourish skin.
According to studies, plant stem cells help slow the speed of skin ageing. Chantecaille was the first beauty company to tap into this finding, and in 2007, launched the Chantecaille Gold range. Plant stem cells are now a feature in many other Chantecaille products.
Botanicals – The heart of Chantecaille
Chantecaille’s high-capacity lab is the machinery behind its plant stem cell research. To determine which plants offer the most skin benefits, scientists test each one’s survival quotient, by simulating different weather conditions in the lab.
They then create an extract of the plant stem cell, which is then duplicated so it can go through more rounds of strict and rigorous safety testing.
The brand wants to ensure that the extracts contain no environmental contaminants such as pesticides, toxins and heavy metals that can irritate sensitive skin. The rigorous process ensures that only the purest, most effective active ingredients, containing high concentrations of the potent phyto-actives that benefit skin, make it into each product. Take the Chantecaille Bio Lifting Oil Free Fluid+ for example – each bottle contains 10 million plant stem cells, making it a powerful anti-ageing treatment.
Taking care of the environment
Plant stem cells aren’t just powerful ingredients, they’re also more sustainable. Sylvie says plant stem cells need little land and water, which means more can be used for food crops.
In fact, the brand claims that if a customer invested in six 50ml jars (or a year’s worth) of a Chantecaille cream containing one plant stem cell active, the company would reduce water consumption by up to one tonne annually. The actual amount of water saved is a lot higher as a some Chantecaille products contain more than one active.
The fact that plant stem cells are cultivated in the lab means there’s no need to wait for a harvest to obtain what’s needed. And as only a specific part of the plant is needed, that part can be replicated in culture, so the plant is never destroyed, unlike in traditional slash-and-burn farming methods. Not to mention, having access to every one of the plant’s molecules means the brand is able to avoid plant shortages due to drought or flood.
WHAT’S GOOD FOR YOUR SKIN
Caffeine-free Coffee Stem Cell
Bionymph Peptide Stem Cell
Sweet Pea Stem Cell
Daphne Stem Cell
Raspberry Stem Cell
Plantago Lanceolata Stem Cell
Tomato Stem Cell
White Horehound Stem Cell
Bell Pepper Stem Cell
THE FIRST PLANT STEM CELL
It was a rare apple that started the phenomenon. The Uttwiler Spatlauber, found in the Swiss Alps, has an unusually long shelf life – it can keep fresh for months. On the tree, if the apple’s skin is nicked, it can regenerate and heal itself. Scientists found that its stem cells are a potent reservoir of anti-ageing properties. Used in skincare, it encourages the skin cell renewal process, reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles, while restoring elasticity.
MEET CHANTECAILLE’S BIO-LIFTING RANGE
Treat Bio Lifting Serum+, $460
Hydrate Bio Lifting Oil Free Fluid+, $471
