ALPAFLOR® SCUTELLARIA CB

Relieve urban stress for incomparable skin comfort

Our sustainable, organic bioactive to relieve environmental and urban stress

ALPAFLOR® SCUTELLARIA CB is a sustainable plant extract from aerial part of an unique alpine species Scutellaria Alpina. ALPAFLOR® SCUTELLARIA CB targets multiple steps in the skin inflammation process.

Thanks to its strong antioxidant properties, ALPAFLOR®SCUTELLARIA CB captures free radicals helps to reduce skin inflammation by acting on GABAb (gamma-butyric acid b) receptors and by stimulation of the beta-endorphin release. The effect is a stronger, healthier skin barrier with reduced pain and burning sensations. This bioactive ingredient is ECOCERT, COSMOS, and NATRUE organic certified and Fair trade Fair for Life certified.

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. Contact us for more information.

Frederic Morard grows Edelweiss, Alpine Flax (linum), Lemon Balm (Melissa) Alpine Willowherb (Epilobium) and Skullcap (Scutellaria) for dsm-firmenich’s Alpaflor® range of cosmetic ingredients.

We talked to him to know more about his passion to grow the plants and his hopes and expectations for the future.

dsm-firmenich: How did you become involved in cultivating aromatic plants?

Frederic Morard: My parents have been working the land here for over 30 years. They grew strawberries to begin with and then diversified into aromatic plants. I trained as a landscape gardener originally but have always helped my parents out and took over running their farm in my own right about three years ago.

dsm-firmenich: Have you changed anything since taking over from your parents? Do you have a vision for how you would like the farm to be?

FM: In this line of work, you can always make improvements because there’s always something new to learn about different plants and what they need to thrive. First and foremost though I want to continue all my parents’ good work - I’ve learned so much from their horticultural approach over the years. Of course, I want to add my own personal touches too, and one way I’m doing this is by increasing the range of plant varieties. Some crops always fare better than others depending on the year so this helps spread the financial risk. It’s also better for nature and biodiversity too, so win-win all-round!

dsm-firmenich: You are known for taking very good care of your plants. What, in your view, are the most important factors in growing healthy, high-yield plants?

FM: I’d say it’s about having an affinity with the plants and with nature, and about understanding as much as you can about their needs in terms of things like soil type, sun exposure or watering. Some things can change from day to day, season to season and year to year - and the small details really matter so it’s important to pay close attention. You also need to be responsive and willing to adapt your approach to the plants in front of you, but with my passion for what I do that’s easy.

dsm-firmenich: What do you like about this work? And of the plants you cultivate for DSM do you have a favourite?

FM: I was born and grew up among plants and have always found them fascinating - there are so many different scents, colours and forms. I get so much satisfaction from being immersed in nature, surrounded by mountains; tending my plants and watching them bloom. I grow five different plants for ALPAFLOR® at the moment and I like something different about each one – the intense blue of the flax, the fragrance of the lemon balm, the beauty of the Edelweiss which has a special place with being our national flower... The fields of skullcap are also something to behold when they’re in bloom - the carpet of pink, lilac and white is incredibly colourful.

Organic sustainable cultivation of ALPAFLOR® Scutellaria

dsm-firmenich: You enjoy showing visitors your fields of flowers. Why is this important to you?

FM: I think customers from the cosmetics companies find it really helpful both to see where the ingredients they use come from and to learn something about the plants, I guess it creates a sense of connection with nature. When people have an appreciation of the work involved it also enhances the status of what we do here. It’s very satisfying for me to see how surprised and impressed visitors are when they see all the fields in bloom, the colours extend for miles.

dsm-firmenich: And how do you feel when you see the final cosmetics products created from your plants?

FM: I feel very proud indeed. Supplying a major cosmetic ingredient company such as dsm-firmenich is a real opportunity and to know that my plants are going into beauty products that are sold all over the world is an amazing feeling. I draw a real sense of value from this.

dsm-firmenich: A key aspect of Fair Trade is, of course, fair payment, but how is this approach helping you more generally?

FM: Well we all need to earn our living so this collaboration means I can stand my ground in sometimes challenging conditions. But when you know you are collaborating on Fair Trade terms with a supportive partner you are also motivated to do the best work you can and to produce the best possible quality plants you can at all times. There’s a real chance to learn and improve what you do and ultimately, the buyer and end consumer also benefit from this. The stability has enabled me to extend my plantations too, so I can also give employment to other people locally.

dsm-firmenich: There is much more awareness now of the need to protect natural areas and our planet, what do you see as the main challenges for your valley?

FM: We are lucky in many ways because being so high in the mountains and surrounded by forests the land is well protected and the air unpolluted. It’s an ideal environment for nature. However, I want to help keep it this way and it’s important not to be complacent. Our organic approach to farming is part of this but I’m also keen to encourage biodiversity, so I’ve already planted more trees, installed nesting boxes for birds and introduced beehives.

dsm-firmenich: And what are your hopes for the future?

FM: I want to keep working with dsm-firmenich and I’d like to grow an even wider range of aromatic plants. I also want to stay on the land here, surrounded by the mountains, clean air and beautiful flowers - it’s where I’ve always been and you could say it’s in my blood!

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: Glycerin, Water, Scutellaria Alpina Flower / Leaf / Stem Potassium Sorbate, Sodium benzoate, Citric acid 
  • Rare Alpine Scutellaria alpina extract with unique composition 
  • Sustainable, organic and fair trade bioactive for transparency and traceability 
  • Activates GABAb receptors and enhances production of β-endorphin 
  • Stimulates the skin’s key defense genes against pollutants, UV and stress 
  • Protects the skin’s barrier function

Benefits

  • Relieves unpleasant sensations and softens the skin for incomparable comfort 
  • Keeps healthy looking skin and improves skin appearance 
  • Preserves skin’s hydration 
  • Protects and calms irritated skin 

Certifications

ecocert

19.89% PPAI (physical processed agro ingredient)
69.29% CPAI (chemical processed agro ingredient)
0.00% Synth (synthetic)
100% of the total ingredients are from natural origin

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5% natural (98% organic)
26% water
69% derived natural
Complies with the NATRUE Criteria

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Fair trade certified according to the Fair For Life standard available at fairforlife.org

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Halal certified by HFCE (Halal Food Council of Europe)

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IECSC listed, IECIC listing

Mode of Action

ALPAFLOR® SCUTELLARIA CB acts as strong free radical scavenger reducing the oxidative stress. It stimulates key mediators GABAb receptors and enhances production of β-endorphin (both located in the epidermis on keratinocytes), leading to relieve pain sensation with less unpleasant sensation of sensitive skin, and helping to reduce skin inflammation.

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