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Building on our strong expertise in application, dsm-firmenich formulators create desirable formulations that can be used in a variety of market applications.
ALPAFLOR® EDELWEISS CB
Holistic alpine beauty care for skin rejuvenation
Natural, organic bioactive expert in self-protection
ALPAFLOR® EDELWEISS CB is a Leontopodium alpinum ‘Helvetia’ extract cultivated between 1000m and 1500m altitude in the Swiss Alps, ensuring a maximum content of active compounds such as leontopodic acid. There it has to contend with extremes of temperature, making Edelweiss an expert in self-protection. It supports the skin’s crucial protective barrier, enhancing its resistance to external stress factors and providing an ultimate skin sensation. This product is preservative-free and based on vegetal glycerin. It is COSMOS, NATRUE organic certified and Fair Trade certified according to the Fair For Life standard.
Watch our video ‘Unlock the Alpaflor world’ to find out more about our Alpaflor philosophy of producing sustainable, traceable and fair organic actives that benefit the environment, and our close relationship with local farmers. While this video focuses on ALPAFLOR® EDELWEISS CB, we use the same process for all our Alpaflor products from plant drying, through to extraction and manufacturing at our facility in Vouvry.
Product Features
- INCI name (active): Leontopodium Alpinum Flower / Leaf Extract
- Unique Edelweiss variety Leontopodium alpinum ‘Helvetia’, sustainably and organically cultivated according to Bio Suisse organic standards and fair trade principles
- Contains high levels of leontopodic acid
- In vitro stimulates several key genes and proteins responsible for epidermal protection (including transglutaminase 1, involucrin, loricrin, and keratins)
- Strong antioxidant, radical scavenging, and DNA protection properties
- Rebalances UV-induced oxidative and proinflammatory stress markers on the gene level
- Preservative-free
- Antiglycation3D facial color mapping in vivo with reduction of AGEs
- Reduces the fine lines, 3 times better than placebo on glabella
- Prevents and reverses glycation: reduction of AGEs, glycated collagen IV, detoxifies and repairs after glycation stress
- Strongly and significantly boosts Collagen I and V
Benefits
- Helps slow down the premature aging of skin and protects the skin against oxidative stress
- Helps reduce lines and wrinkles with anti-sagging effect on the V-shape and forehead in vivo, for a rejuvenated skin
- Supports skin’s crucial protective barrier, enhancing its resistance to environmental influence
- Helps the skin preserve its natural balance, perceptibly reducing skin sensitivity
- Helps prevent hair loss (improves hair density)
- Helps reduce the appearance of greying hair
- Provides a new level of protection for an ultimate sensation of skin comfort
- 3 out of 4 consumers report a more comfortable skin feel
IECSC listed, IECIC listing
19.84% PPAI (physical processed agro ingredient)
69.36% CPAI (chemical processed agro ingredient)
0.00% Synth (synthetic)
100% of the total ingredients are from Natural Origin
8% Natural (98% Organic)
23% Water
69% Derived Natural, complies with the NATRUE Criteria
Halal certified by HFCE (Halal Food Council of Europe)
Fair trade certified according to the Fair For Life standard available at fairforlife.org
Mode of Action
ALPAFLOR® EDELWEISS CB stimulates key proteins responsible for providing maximum protection and moisturization of the skin. Particularly, levels of transglutaminase 1 and involucrin are increased to reinforce the cornified envelopes. Gene expression studies have demonstrated the multi-target activity of ALPAFLOR® EDELWEISS CB on several levels. In particular loricrin, involucrin, filaggrin, small proline-rich proteins (SPRRs), keratin 1, and keratin 10 gene expression are significantly up regulated. Furthermore, ALPAFLOR® EDELWEISS CB reduces AGEs, glycated collagen IV and detoxifies and repairs after glycation stress in vitro. More over it strongly and significantly boosts Collagen I and V in vitro.
ALPAFLOR® Farming for Beauty™ program
dsm-firmenich’s Farming for Beauty™ program has been developed to help you reassure your consumers that their beauty ingredients have been produced sustainably and in line with the highest ethical principles.
Meet one of our ALPAFLOR® farmers
Catherine Tornay lives in the heart of the Swiss Alps in the tiny mountain village of Reppaz, 10 km from Mont Blanc. She moved to the village 35 years ago and has raised her four children here. As well as helping her husband with their dairy herd and working as the local postwoman, Catherine cultivates Edelweiss plants for dsm-firmenich.
Catherine cultivates Edelweiss plants for dsm-firmenich
“I began growing medicinal and herbal plants back in 1990 and the more I learned about them the more fascinated I became. When the local co-operative approached me about cultivating Edelweiss for dsm-firmenich I was delighted” Catherine explains. “It can be hard, as I have to weed everything by hand, but the flowers are so beautiful and I love watching them bloom. Harvesting them is a real pleasure too. The work is very intensive, but it’s wonderful to be outdoors in July when the mountains are at their greenest. My husband, sons, and grandchildren all help out too, so it has become a real family venture.”
Sustainable cultivation methods help protect and preserve the area’s unique biodiversity, and dsm-firmenich’s collaboration with the Swiss cooperative Catherine works for also helps secure an income for local mountain farmers. dsm-firmenich recently received North-North Fair for Life certification for this initiative. We assume all risks, so even in the event of crop failure due to natural disasters, bad weather conditions or pest infestation, the farmers receive their wage.
“Many people are moving away from mountain areas, because it can be so hard to earn a living. I love village life and want to stay here so I really appreciate having a guaranteed income from growing these plants” says Catherine. “I’ve had to learn a lot about organic farming over the years, and am still learning all the time, but the dsm-firmenich team is very knowledgeable and supportive. I’m very proud of what I do and because dsm-firmenich trusts us farmers to do our best to grow the highest quality plants, I genuinely feel that I’m part of the team.”
As well drawing satisfaction from knowing that the plants she grows are going into beauty products all over the world, Catherine is pleased to see her children and grandchildren beginning to share her passion for both the plants and organic farming. “Often today, younger generations have no idea where their ingredients come from. My hope is that if they can begin to understand this, and the work that’s involved, then they will share these insights with others, who in turn will tell their friends and families. My young grand-daughter, for instance, is fascinated by life on the farm and my work on the plants for dsm-firmenich’s ALPAFLOR® range. If everybody had the opportunity to see this aspect of supply chains, like she does, it would certainly make a difference”.
ALPAFLOR® EDELWEISS CB
Beyond Natural
Improving hair density and fighting the grey sustainably
For a growing number of consumers, resilient beauty also extends to building our planet’s resilience – by seeking out biodegradable and sustainable hair care solutions. In addition, the search is on for proven, high performing skin care ingredients that can also tackle consumers’ top hair and scalp concerns, like the prevention of hair loss. Here, the most popular action being taken by consumers is to use hair or scalp care products at home. However, consumers have not been satisfied with these products as they are not perceived as effective. New in-vivo studies with our organically cultivated plant extract ingredient ALPAFLOR® EDELWEISS CB now show, that it can help increase hair density and hair pigmentation.
Take the antioxidant benefits further with ALPAFLOR® EDELWEISS CB
Glycation and skin aging – the new hot topic
Not many consumers have heard of glycation. But because it plays a key role in skin aging, they will experience its effects − dull skin, inflammation, sagging and the appearance of fine lines. Glycation is also a process that accelerates with time and weakens skin’s defense against the effect of free radicals, creating a vicious circle. New studies have shown that by targeting glycation, ALPAFLOR® EDELWEISS CB can break this cycle – to slow down signs of skin aging.
Reduce fine lines with ALPAFLOR® EDELWEISS CB
In new in-vivo studies, ALPAFLOR® EDELWEISS CB significantly reduced glycation, and glycation-related signs of skin aging like fine lines, in all facial areas after 4 weeks. Compared to the placebo, these results were especially noticeable on the forehead, upper lip, and jaw line – all visualized by using colour facial antioxidant mapping.
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