Ingredient Spotlight: A Deep Dive Into Stem Cells For Skin Renewal

The Emergence of Stem Cells in Swedish Skincare

Utilizing plant stem cells in skincare is still an emerging industry. There have been significant advances recently, but the industry is still only starting to grasp their full potential.

We all know exposure to UV rays and other environmental stressors can damage skin. This is especially true in northern Sweden when 24-hours of sunlight are common in the summers and, during the winters, temperatures can drop below -30°C. Any exposed skin on the face or hands will take a significant toll in these conditions. When we are young, our own stem cells are constantly at work to renew and repair any damage and keep our faces radiant and blemish-free. But, as we age, proper protective and anti-aging skincare becomes even more important to help use achieve a radiant glow and ageless beauty.

How Do Stem Cells Impact Aging Skin?

Over time, the number of stem cells in our bodies dwindle and signs of aging becoming more apparent. Aging of skin is a complex process involving all layers of the epidermis and dermis, comprising denaturing proteins and reduced functioning of regenerative stem cells. This is foundationally caused by a decline in the function of epidermal stem cells in association with shortened telomeres (telomeres are nucleoprotein complexes that cap and save the ends of chromosomes from degradation and abnormal recombination).

Hello, crow’s feet and thinning skin… Hello, wrinkles on the face and sagging skin on the neck… But, how can we protect our skin and prevent early signs of aging?

The Regenerative Power of Plant Stem Cells

If you have spent any time in a garden, you may already be aware of the incredible regenerative ability of plants. Take a cutting from a tree and a whole new one will grow under the right conditions. This has lead scientists to research how they can harness this regenerative power from stem cells and create skincare products that can help turn back the clock.

Apples Used For Plant Stem Cell Extraction

While most people have a preconceived idea of stem cells, the type generally used in skincare is not alive like in a lab and are usually in the form of an extract, yet, even so, this stem cell extract comes with plentiful benefits. Multi-purpose ingredients such as plant stem cell extract is a foundational part in a Swedish skincare routine. Ginger King, cosmetic chemist, mentions “you get the same benefits of antioxidants, amino acid content, and ability to boost collagen synthesis from these stem cell extracts.”

A Variety of Plant Stem Cells With Different Anti-Aging Skincare Benefits

Specific species of plants have been touted for their regenerative abilities and skincare benefits of extracted stem cells. According to Gül Zone, founder and CEO of DermAware, stem cells derived from “apple, rose, argan or Dwarf soapwort, which protect stem cells in the skin and lessen the appearance of wrinkles; grape and soy stem cells, which deliver antioxidant benefits; and marine plant stem cells that can heal and lighten skin.”

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Karen Asquith, National Education Director at G.M. Collin adds, “Grape and lilac stem cells are said to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and wound healing capabilities. A study by a Swiss apple ingredient manufacturer showed that the apple’s stem cells stimulated the proliferation of human stem cells, thereby reducing wrinkle depth.”

Swiss Apples Praised For Ability To Survive Harsh Winters and Heal When Bruised

In Stråla One, we incorporate Swiss apple stem cell extract. Similar to the harsh conditions in northern Sweden, these rare Swiss apples of the Uttwiler Spätlauber variety are praised for their ability to survive Swiss winters, heal its own bruises and maintain its fresh appeal for over four months. Vogue has even gone as far as to call this a “miracle ingredient” in anti-aging skincare. A clinical trial of Malus domestica fruit cell culture extract has shown significant potential to reduce wrinkles in the crow’s feet area of the face. Wrinkles became shallower by 8% after 2 weeks and by 15% after 4 weeks.

Purvisha Patel, MD, board-certified dermatologist has also expanded on that by saying “these extracts may be beneficial as an anti-aging agent, especially if mixed with tissue exfoliating agents such as retinol.” Two gentle forms of retinol are synthesized with Swiss apple stem cells in Stråla One to help reduce signs of aging skin on a user’s face, neck, and décolletage.

Interesting Fact: The Discovery of Regenerative Plant Cells

The remarkable phenomenon of callus creation from differentiated adult plant cells was first hypothesized in 1902 by the Austrian botanist, Gottlieb Haberlandt. He suggested that an individual plant cell is able to regenerate the entire plant. It was not until 1958 that this was actually demonstrated when a carrot was cloned from in vitro cultivated carrot cells.