Sustainable Plant Stem Cell Science Is Transforming Our Skin Care… Here's The Scoop

Plant stem cells are "undifferentiated cells," meaning the kind of cell they'll become (like a leaf, root, or flower cell) is a bit TBD. They live in parts of the plant that grow quickly—think roots and shoots. Kind of like a superpower, these plant stem cells self-renew by growing new plant parts1 after injury. Add in the fact that they are boosted with soothing and antioxidant components and generated sustainably, and it's no wonder plant stem cell science and beauty brands share mutual interests. Chantecaille, an innovative clean beauty company, was one of the first to harness the power of these botanicals while giving back to the environment. After all, nature is the inspiration behind their formulas.

From a young age, founder Sylvie Chantecaille found herself fascinated by the healing powers of flowers and plants. A beauty industry pioneer, her ahead-of-the-curve passion for naturals soon homed in on plant stem cells and their promising skin potential. "As a girl, I spent long afternoons reading Paris Match in our attic surrounded by crates of drying, wrinkled apples," she recalls. "So when I heard about research on a non-wrinkling apple whose stem cells had anti-aging properties, I was extremely interested in how they could be used in skin care."

There's a reason why Chantecaille refers to plant stem cell extracts as "The Supernaturals." Plant stem cell extracts are typically much more concentrated than natural extracts, hence their superior potency. And as for their anti-aging prowess: "Plant stem cells 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. 

But where do these benefits and skin care meet? It starts in a lab, where plant stem cells are sourced from plant tissue. They're then sterilized and grown into a nutrient-dense jelly containing the stem cells themselves. Researchers then stress these plant stem cells to mimic environmental challenges like extreme heat and cold or excessive sunlight. These conditions cause the plant stem cells to generate phytonutrients that we know our skin loves, like antioxidants, sugars, and peptides. The stem cells are then homogenized to release these phytonutrients, which pack our skin care products with antioxidants and soothing molecules to moisturize, protect from free radicals, calm the appearance of redness, and visually reduce the signs of aging.

Plant stem cell extracts aren't just powerful, they're incredibly versatile. Different plants yield different benefits. And the best way to access all of them? With a diverse skin care routine:

Raspberry Stem Cell Extract: This powerful extract is known for its ability to fight "inflamm-aging." It has an immediate and long-term hydrating and soothing effect on the skin. You'll see the calming effects of this extract in Chantecaille's Rose de Mai Cleansing Balm. A slather of this antioxidant-rich balm removes all traces of dirt, makeup, and sunscreen to leave skin feeling fresh and dewy.

Plantago Lanceolata Stem Cell Extract: This robust ingredient comes from the plantain family and helps boost the synthesis of collagen and elastin to visibly increase skin firmness. It's another key ingredient in the Bio Lifting Serum+ but can also be found in Chantecaille's Bio Lifting Oil Free Fluid+, an oil-free moisturizer that visibly restores skin's density and elasticity.