Why the Origin of Skincare Ingredients Matters: The Science Behind Where They’re Grown
Not all ingredients are the same when it comes to potency and effectiveness in a skincare formula. It’s not just enough to use high-quality olive or jojoba oil; consumers should be aware of where their skincare ingredients actually come from. Ingredient origin can actually play a major role in formula efficacy and ingredient strength.
Discover the science behind why the origin of skincare ingredients matters and how it can impact the final formula. Find out also how the same ingredients grown in two different countries have completely different antioxidant compositions.
Where Do Skincare Ingredients Come From?
Skincare ingredients are actually sourced from a variety of diverse regions around the world.
Unfortunately, not all countries have high agricultural or production standards when it comes to both synthetic actives and natural ingredients.
Based on how the land is treated, the organic auditing process, and manufacturing, skincare ingredients vary in quality. You can check out our blog post on why Ingredient Sourcing Impacts Skincare Quality.
Currently, the majority of both simple and complex actives come from China. China is also a dominant player when it comes to certain high-end skincare ingredients, including Sea Buckthorn and Jojoba Oil.
But China has had some problems in the past with ingredient integrity and certifications.
As a luxury organic company, we source our ingredients from regions with the highest agricultural and production standards.
Thankfully, most ultra-high-end skincare ingredients come from regions like Europe, the US, Australia, New Zealand, South America, and Canada.
But does where an ingredient is grown actually impact how well it will work in a skincare formula?
In other words, if, for example, China grows the same plant and maintains high agricultural and production standards, will it work as well as ingredients grown in their native regions?
Let’s look at a few specific examples and find out more!
Where Do Edelweiss Flowers Come From?
Edelweiss flowers are fuzzy mountain flowers known for their ability to survive in harsh conditions. They are native to the Alps, specifically Switzerland, Austria, and Italy; hence the Latin name, Leontopodium Alpinum.
These incredible flowers have developed the ability to survive under high solar UV radiation, cold temperatures, and extreme elevation.
In fact, edelweiss flowers produce high amounts of antioxidants, specifically leontopodic acid, to survive in these harsh Alpine conditions. Leontopodic acid and flavonoids found in edelweiss extract have incredible anti-aging properties.
We use edelweiss extract from Switzerland in our Natural Retinol as a plant-based anti-aging ingredient to avoid the irritation and redness associated with traditional synthetic retinol products.
However, countries like China also grow edelweiss flowers and export edelweiss extract. Many skincare and beauty brands choose to use Chinese edelweiss extract because it is 8-10 times cheaper than extract from Switzerland.
But what’s the difference?
Swiss edelweiss flowers and extract have higher amounts of leontopodic acid and flavonoids because of environmental conditions and extraction processes.
The flower's ability to survive depends on the amount of leontopodic acid it can produce. Edelweiss in Switzerland is heavily regulated and must be grown at specific high altitudes.
The combination of extreme altitudes, UV radiation, thin air, and cold, fluctuating temperatures can generate up to 10 times higher concentrations of protective antioxidants (like flavonoids and leontopodic acid) to shield itself from cell damage.
Chinese Edelweiss flowers are grown at lower altitudes or in greenhouses to maximize yield, so without the environmental stress, the flowers produce much fewer antioxidants.
Not to mention, regulations and standardized practices in Switzerland aim to guarantee minimum percentages of active flavonoids and leontopdicu acid in their production, whereas not all Chinese manufacturers have this same level of auditing and industrial standards.
The result is that the anti-aging benefits that protect edelweiss flowers from cell damage are much higher in Swiss edelweiss extract than in countries like China, for example.
This is exactly why we use Edelweiss Flower Extract from Switzerland in our Natural Retinol.
So it's not just about agricultural standards or manufacturing practices or even certification integrity. While all of these are extremely important when it comes to ingredient sourcing, the country of origin of products may even impact their efficacy in skincare.
We believe that skincare is just that: products that actually care for your skin. Thoughtfully selected natural ingredients, from countries with premium standards, expertly crafted into formulas that actually work!