The Little-Known Skincare Ingredient Offering More Resilient Skin

STORIES BY LUCY ADAMS

This story is presented in partnership with The Body Shop.

As a self-confessed natural skincare devotee, it’s rare I come across an ingredient that I haven’t slathered on my face, read up on or at least heard a murmur about. For me, that ingredient is edelweiss. Like many, I have a fond childhood nostalgia for The Sound of Music’s rendition, but it seems edelweiss, the tiny white flower from the Swiss Alps, offers more than just decorative benefits; it can be a powerful skincare ingredient, too.

Found growing in the rugged terrain of the Alps – think extreme wind, snow, and rain – edelweiss is known for its resilience. Until recently the tiny white flower had been studied for its medical potential only (particularly its possible cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory benefits), and it was these studies that managed to attract the attention of cosmetic chemists.

What does edelweiss do for your skin?

In short, edelweiss is resilience bottled. It’s the ultimate do-it-all ingredient, and contains high levels of antioxidants, which are essential to keep free radical damage (AKA the signs of ageing) at bay. It also has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that all help to minimise the appearance of fine lines, support skin elasticity and defend against UVB rays. Not only that but it’s vegan-friendly and it plays nicely with most other skincare ingredients (eg: vitamin A, and C).

One brand that has harnessed the power of edelweiss is The Body Shop, which combines ethically sourced edelweiss extract with natural peptides, hyaluronic acid and community fair trade moringa seed oil to help keep complexions dewy, fresh and healthy.

Here at PRIMER, we are big fans of The Body Shop’s purpose-driven ethos. For over 40 years, The Body Shop has campaigned, driven change and smashed beauty industry standards. It is the O.G. changemaker (the first global beauty company to ban animal testing) and it is committed to being a force for good and providing top-notch products. Its best-known Edelweiss product is the Daily Serum Concentrate, and one is sold every 25 seconds globally.

Meet The Women Making Thousands From Their Wardrobes

BY CAROLINE ZIELINSKI Arrow SHOP EDELWEISS

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