The Cell Cocktail

When it comes to skincare, we’re like a bunch of mad scientists experimenting away with all sorts of potential ingredients.

Soon after the wave of charcoal and retinol based products, the recent craze after bizarre beauty solutions had us almost convinced that there were no new lands to be explored. The most radical were fish scales for glowing skin, manipulation of dried and powdered bugs for pigmentation. We thought we had every possible avenue exhausted and we seemed to be pleased with the results, by and large. And while indigenous extracts and shea butter may be a thing of the past, we weren’t aware, till now, that they had more to offer.

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Undifferentiated cells, found in the meristem of plants, are the ‘newest’ answer for everlasting skin, it is gradually becoming an essential ingredient in all sorts of skincare solutions. Even though, they have been around a very long time, their applications were subject to constant speculation. Relentlessly pursued by believers of this radical science, stem cells are now making the ultimate comeback. Human skin cells age, degrade and die, leaving behind an endless trail of wrinkles and patches, accompanied with sagging, dullness and dehydration; but plant stem cells are reportedly immortal, they have the one thing that is in common with a person’s deepest desires and the tail of a lizard; the ability to self renew and replenish all kinds of damaged cells to create eternal youth, of sorts..

“As a result of ageing, skin stem cell energy and activity diminishes. Unfortunately, the rate of damage surpasses the rate of repair,” says Dr. Reema Arora, Head of Facial Aesthetics at Cocoona Aesthetic Transformation Centre. “There have been increasing numbers of scientific reports on the therapeutic effects of plant stem cells on scar remodeling, skin repair and rejuvenation. These stem cells offer high intensity, restorative outcomes that lead to better skin in lesser time.”

Another interesting aspect is that plant cell activity is governed, not by internal factors but by environmental stimuli. When they split, they can differentiate into practically any type of cell. Once inside the human body, they quickly adapt and divide further to replicate actual human skin stem cells, therefore initiating self-healing. These multi tasking little warriors shield the skin from UV-exposure induced cellular damage. Studies show that grape seed stem cells, being a powerhouse of antioxidant activity, can be used to effectively and organically control tumours, as plant stem cells reduce the amount of radiation that penetrates through the skin.

Since these are molecules of living tissue, from another species, put in your body, there may be chance for potential hypersensitivity and so, these products need to be used with extreme caution. The ideal way is to test products on a small area for about 48 hours and if you are not one of the exceptionally unlucky people, you’ll be on your way to radiant, healthy skin in almost no time, well about a month but then whose really counting?.

Plants with healthy antioxidant activity are best suited for stem cell extraction. Lilac, argan and aloe vera have, time and again, proved themselves as the saviors of skincare and they don’t intend on slowing down. Stem cell extracts from raspberry, edelweiss, gotukala, mushroom and Swiss apple have also been observed as revolutionary ingredients and are being used by several beauty brands exploring aesthetic medicine, to communicate with human stem cells in order to kick start cellular vigour and potency. Lab generated and carefully cultured under controlled conditions, these proteins can significantly boost skin care regimes because what they do isn’t remodel and fix and basically try and save a sinking ship, they replace damaged cells.

Incredibly potent cocktails of stem cells and other plant extracts, new age ingredients that leave you wondering about what more they might, very soon, uncover,