Ingredients The Super Naturals Plant stem cell extracts harness plants’ full power for incredible visible benefits in skincare. They’re made in a lab, but they’re natural—and also sustainable. Here’s why they’re so amazing to use on your skin. Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter Pin on Pinterest Email this to a friend The Nicotiana sylvestris (flowering tobacco) plant, one of many sources of plant stem cells A decade ago, Chantecaille was among the first beauty companies to use what were then newly engineered plant stem cells, by incorporating apple stem cells into the formula for Nano Gold Energizing Face Cream. Founder Sylvie Chantecaille had been intrigued by what she’d been learning about their potency: “As a girl, I spent long afternoons reading Paris Match in our attic surrounded by crates of drying, wrinkled apples. So when I heard about the research on the non-wrinkling apple whose stem cells had antiaging properties, I was extremely interested in how they could be used in skincare,” she recalls. After the success of apple stem cells, Chantecaille continued to explore new plant stem cell extracts in skincare, from sources such as raspberries (Bio Lifting Serum+), coffee (Bio Lifting Cream+), flowering tobacco (Gold Recovery Mask), tomatoes (Nano Gold Energizing Eye Serum), eggplant and cannabis (CBD 300 Face and Body Cream). But even though these extracts are now well established in cosmetics, their origins remain quite mysterious to most people looking for a daily youth boost from their creams and serums. Here’s their story. Plant stem cells under a microscope THE ORIGIN OF PLANT VITALITYPlant stem cells are a specific type of plant cell that is able to self-renew and differentiate into any specialized cell type within the plant—like a leaf cell, root cell, or flower cell. (They are also referred to as “mother cells,” which may ring a bell from 9th grade biology.) They are concentrated in parts of the plant where growth takes place, like the roots, buds and fruit. In a laboratory, plant stem cells are typically cultivated from small snippets of plant tissue. These are sterilized and grown in a solution of nutrients into a “callus”—a kind of jelly-like blob—that contains stem cells. Once formed, the callus can be screened for properties of interest to scientists—think anti-aging or anti-redness. These plant stem cells are incredibly powerful and versatile, and also very resilient. “They serve as the origin of plant vitality because they never undergo an aging process,” explains Marta Cammarano, Chantecaille’s VP of Research and Product Development. “They stay young throughout the life of the plant.” Growing cell cultures (center) to process Bionymph Peptide BUILDING ON NATURE’S DESIGNOnce generated, plant stem cells are then stressed to amplify their most powerful traits, mimicking a natural process that helps plants to adapt and thrive in difficult environments. Outdoors, plants exposed to stresses like cold, excessive sunlight and other extreme conditions produce defensive molecules needed to survive and adapt to their environments. In much the same way, scientists reproduce stressful conditions for plant stem cells in containers, triggering them to produce phytonutrients like antioxidants, sugars and peptides that can be potentially beneficial for skin. In this regard, plant stem cells are used as powerful “bio factories,” as Cammarano puts it, to create different cosmetic ingredients with proven visible effects on skin. Phytonutrients from different plants have been shown to moisturize the skin, leaving it more visibly plumped; fend off free radicals; calm the appearance of redness; and reduce visible signs of age, like fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots. What this all translates to? Stem-cell infused skincare, packed with various antioxidants and anti-inflammatory molecules, helps the skin fend off damaging free radicals to visibly slow the aging process. Bionymph Peptide is a plant stem cell extract powering many of our skincare products BETTER, CLEANER, MORE SUSTAINABLEIn addition, lab-produced plant stem cell extracts have a number of advantages over natural extracts obtained through regular farming. “You can extract the potent part from a tiny plant grown in a lab, using no earth and very little water, rather than destroying a whole field of plants in order to produce an ingredient,” Sylvie says. - They are highly potent. Plant stem cell extracts are typically more concentrated then most natural extracts.- They are better for the environment. Plant stem cells produced in a lab typically require 10 to 30 times less water than field farming, very little soil, and no pesticides.- They offer a clean and consistent supply of natural ingredients, as they are not limited to harvest or seasons. In a way, you could say that plant stem cells improve on nature – they’re nature 2.0. In their power and efficiency, they’re the perfect marriage of nature and science to generate beautiful-looking skin. Shop This Story Blanc Gardenia Brightening Essence A brightening serum powered by plant stem cells Regular price £170 Regular price £0.00 Sale price £170 Unit price / Translation missing: en.accessibility.unit_price_separator Add to Bag Best Seller Rose de Mai Cream Infused with botanicals that hydrate to promote visibly smoother, radiant looking skin Regular price £198 Regular price Sale price £198 Unit price / Translation missing: en.accessibility.unit_price_separator Add to Bag Best Seller Bio Lifting Serum+ An advanced botanical serum that offers visible lifting and smoothing Regular price £265 Regular price Sale price £265 Unit price / Translation missing: en.accessibility.unit_price_separator Add to Bag Best Seller Bio Lifting Cream+ Age-defying plant stem cells power this hydrating cream Regular price From £101 Regular price Sale price From £101 Unit price / Translation missing: en.accessibility.unit_price_separator Choose size Bio Lifting Oil Free Fluid+ A lightweight moisturizer rich in botanicals that visibly restore density and elasticity Regular price £250 Regular price Sale price £250 Unit price / Translation missing: en.accessibility.unit_price_separator Add to Bag Bio Lifting Neck Cream Powerful botanicals promote a firmer appearance of the neck Regular price £175 Regular price Sale price £175 Unit price / Translation missing: en.accessibility.unit_price_separator Add to Bag Best Seller Gold Energizing Eye Serum A de-puffing, smoothing botanical serum with a rollerball applicator Regular price £205 Regular price Sale price £205 Unit price / Translation missing: en.accessibility.unit_price_separator Add to Bag Best Seller Gold Recovery Mask A powerfully soothing botanical mask that revitalizes the skin Regular price £272 Regular price Sale price £272 Unit price / Translation missing: en.accessibility.unit_price_separator Add to Bag Radiance Gel Bronzer Buildable bronzing gel infused with skincare benefits Regular price £42 Regular price Sale price £42 Unit price / Translation missing: en.accessibility.unit_price_separator Add to Bag