Edelweiss Skincare Benefits
Did you know that this unassuming flower holds the key to youthful skin? It's time to add this anti-aging ingredient to your skincare regimen.
As the leaves change color and we cozy up with our pumpkin spice lattes, it may seem like a peaceful start to the season. However, with extreme weather events on the rise, we can expect polar vortexes, bomb cyclones, atmospheric rivers, and even thundersnow (a rare combination of snowfall and thunderstorms) to disrupt our comfort and harm our skin. These stressors, in different forms, are with us year-round. But these harsh conditions are just another day at work for the mountain flower edelweiss. This star-shaped flower, found in the rugged Swiss and Austrian Alps, has a powerful antioxidant makeup that allows it to withstand extreme weather and maintain its soft and delicate appearance. With such resilience, the beauty industry has taken notice, using edelweiss as a key ingredient in various products.
Edelweiss Skincare Benefits - Science
Edelweiss, also known by its scientific name Leontopodium Alpinum, is often featured on product labels for its beneficial properties. It can be found in hair products to strengthen and soothe the scalp and in oral care as an antibacterial agent. In skincare and makeup, it is valued for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This ingredient has gained popularity in luxury brands such as Swiss-made Bellefontaine and more budget-friendly options like The Body Shop's Edelweiss Skincare collection. After conducting their own clinical trial, Extra Virgin Skin found that edelweiss extract and stem cells provide retinol-like benefits without causing irritation. This has resulted in the plant becoming a star ingredient in their range of masks, moisturizers, and serums.
Edelweiss Skincare Benefits - What exactly is Edelweiss?
This stout, white plant has been a significant symbol in alpine culture for centuries, with soldiers risking their lives to pick it in high-altitude regions and presenting it as a declaration of eternal love (a much more meaningful gesture than The Bachelors' Roses). While most may recognize it as a song from The Sound of Music, where it represents Captain von Trapp's loyalty to Austria and resistance against the Nazis, this plant has also been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years in the Alps. Its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties have made it a staple remedy, often boiled in wine and mixed with milk to treat oral conditions and a range of other ailments such as menstrual cramps, respiratory problems, and dysentery.
Edelweiss Skincare Benefits - Trusted
Edelweiss's reputation continues as a trusted natural remedy in the Alpine area. Monika Blunder, a renowned makeup artist and founder of Monika Blunder Beauty, was raised in Austria, where her father would create a mixture of alcohol-based edelweiss and arnica extract that worked similarly to hydrogen peroxide. Growing up, they used it for any minor cuts, burns, or bruises and found it to be incredibly effective at healing and calming the skin. To them, it seemed like a miraculous cure.
Edelweiss Skincare Benefits - What are the advantages of using Edelweiss?
Today, edelweiss extract is highly valued in the beauty industry for its rich concentrations of chlorogenic and leontopodic acids. These powerful antioxidants act similarly to vitamin C and have been proven to promote skin elasticity, increase dermal density, and improve skin thickness, all contributing to reducing wrinkles. Additionally, the plant contains lignans - a type of polyphenol known for its calming effects on the skin. Biotech companies have even found ways to harness the anti-aging benefits of edelweiss stem cells to protect against the breakdown of important components like elastin, collagen, and hyaluronic acid in the skin. With biotech and AI farming techniques being used by brands like Odacité to maintain potency without depleting natural resources, edelweiss remains an environmentally sustainable option. According to Rahi Sarbaziha, M.D., a Beverly Hills-based specialist in anti-aging and integrative aesthetics, this process is especially helpful since edelweiss plants are rare and difficult to cultivate for cosmetic use.
Edelweiss Skincare Benefits - Extra Virgin Skin
Based on a study conducted by Extra Virgin Skin, the brand claims that its edelweiss extract and stem cell complex offers 43% more antioxidant properties than retinol acetate (a derivative of retinol). These results led to the brand revamping its top-selling skincare line to contain 50% more of the Edelweiss complex.
According to Jack Bunce, the director at Extra Virgin Skin, environmental aggressors such as pollution, dust, UV radiation, and blue light contribute to about 80% of daily skin damage by causing oxidative stress. This leads to dry, dull, and tired-looking skin. Edelweiss extract protects against free radicals by blocking fine dust particles, offering pollution protection, and helping maintain the skin's natural barrier function. Bunce refers to Edelweiss as "the beauty industry's best-kept secret."
He cites several scientific studies showing its effectiveness in improving skin barrier function, displaying strong antioxidant activity, increasing moisturization levels, and reducing inflammation. Bunce finds it exciting from a technical perspective that research supports the benefits of using an extract from a flower that can thrive and survive in harsh environments like heights over 1,500 meters and extreme temperatures in alpine mountains. He predicts that we will see more products containing edelweiss in the near future, backed up by statistics showing a 42% increase in global skincare and color cosmetic products launching with edelweiss in the last three years, according to Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD).
Edelweiss Skincare Benefits - Better Than Vitamin C
Is edelweiss a suitable replacement for vitamin C? While edelweiss has proven to have strong antioxidant properties, experts like Rahi Sarbaziha, M.D. and S. Manjula Jegasothy, M.D. do not recommend replacing vitamin C with it. According to Dr. Sarbaziha, while edelweiss may have a stronger antioxidant effect, vitamin C is more readily available and consistent in skin care products. Vitamin C has been studied more extensively than Edelweiss and is considered the gold-standard antioxidant. However, edelweiss could be a promising alternative for those who experience irritation from vitamin C products. Dr. Jegasothy notes that edelweiss is generally well-tolerated by all skin types and even offers barrier protection, making it less likely to cause irritation than other botanicals or vitamin C. As long as an Edelweiss product is pH-balanced, it can be especially beneficial for those with eczema or sensitive skin. However, as with any new product, individuals with known allergies should consult their dermatologists before trying it out.
Edelweiss Skincare Benefits - Skincare Products
Which beauty products contain edelweiss and are considered the best? High-end Ojai brand Extra Virgin Skin combines California-grown and certified Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Edelweiss flower extracts and stem cells into many of their products, making a unique range of creams, lotions, and cleansers.
Often listed on labels by its taxonomic name, Leontopodium alpinum, edelweiss is included in hair-strengthening and scalp-soothing treatments, as an antibacterial agent in oral care, and for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in skincare and even makeup. Using the extract and stem cells from the plant as the star ingredient in ten products (that include masks, moisturizers, and serums) — all after a proprietary clinical trial showed the ingredient to deliver retinol-like properties and (without the irritation).
Edelweiss’s legacy perseveres as a go-to home remedy in the Alpine region: Celebrity makeup artist Monika Blunder, founder of makeup and skin-care brand Monika Blunder Beauty, grew up in Austria, where her father concocted a blend of alcohol-based edelweiss and arnica extract for use like hydrogen peroxide. “We used it for every little cut, burn, or bruise we got, and it was so effective at healing and soothing the skin,” she says. “It really felt like magic.”
Discover all of Edelweiss Skincare benefits.
Edelweiss is the name of a song sung at a crucial moment in The Sound of Music movie, but the Alpine flower itself is just as tough as the Von Trapp family. Despite its delicate appearance, this white flower can survive in the harsh climate of the Alps, making it an ideal ingredient for skincare products with antioxidant properties. Unsurprisingly, many brands are now incorporating edelweiss into their formulations. We consulted a dermatologist and cosmetic chemist to learn more about this plant-based ingredient. Keep reading to discover all the skincare benefits of Edelweiss and how you can add it to your daily routine. Plus, get expert advice on the best order for applying your skincare products both day and night.
What are the benefits of incorporating Edelweiss into your skincare routine?
Edelweiss is a versatile ingredient with properties that can benefit the skin in multiple ways. It contains antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds, and antimicrobials that can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, improve skin elasticity, and protect against UVB rays.
"In 2020, a study showed that edelweiss extracts have strong antioxidant effects when exposed to UVB light. They also have anti-inflammatory properties and increased moisturizing abilities," explains Dr. Hadley King, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. "In vivo data demonstrated that topical use resulted in improved wrinkles, skin elasticity, dermal density, and skin thickness compared to a placebo."
Aside from its skincare uses, edelweiss has also been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. Krupa Koestline, a clean cosmetic chemist and founder of KKT Consultants, shares, "This rare plant grows in the Alps and Carpathians and has traditional uses for treating gastrointestinal issues, bronchitis, and other inflammatory conditions."
Thanks to advancements in technology, Edelweiss is now being sustainably sourced. Koestline explains, "To prevent overharvesting and exploiting these plants, new biochemistry and molecular biology methods have been developed to cultivate stable plant callus (or cell cultures) to produce desired molecules. This makes extraction and purification easier and leads to higher yields of beneficial polyphenolic compounds than mature plants."
So now you know why vitamin E is a common ingredient in many skincare products!
One major advantage of using this ingredient is that it is suitable for almost anyone. According to Dr. King, "It can be used by individuals who are concerned about anti-aging and maintaining skin health and want to try a new trendy ingredient with limited but promising research." While there have been no reported side effects from using Edelweiss, as with any new product, it's always wise to take precautions and perform a patch test before fully incorporating it into your skincare regimen. It may also be helpful to consult with a certified dermatologist beforehand."
Incorporating Edelweiss into your skincare routine is easy and beneficial. This powerful ingredient has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cell-strengthening properties that work well with most other ingredients. It is safe for daily use and can be found in leave-on products like serums, creams, and face oils. Here are some recommended Edelweiss products to try in your own routine.
Organic Edelweiss Body Lotion
$ 65.00
This lightweight, soothing Body Lotion enriched with Oolong Tea and Edelweiss nourishes and moisturizes, leaving the skin feeling softer, smoother, and more radiant. 8 oz. Good for: Loss of firmness, dryness, brightening. Skin Type: Normal, Dry, Combination, and OilySkincare Concerns: Dryness and Dullness/Uneven Texture.… read more