HOW CAN THE ORCHID live for more than
a century and not look a day older than when it first
bloomed? It’s a question scientists are now asking.
Could this coveted ornamental, long prized since the
ancient Greeks who saw them as a symbol of virility,
really hold the key to anti-aging?
“The orchid has the most exceptional longevity in the
plant kingdom,” says Wendy Phillips, Guerlain’s National
Training Manager. “It is capable of living longer than
100 years in the most hostile of environments and under
extreme conditions. It defies time and the laws of nature.”
Orchids are distinctly different to other f lowers — they
live on trees for starters, and can survive with little food
or water and still retain their wow-factor beauty and
colour. It’s this peculiar dichotomy that has spurred the
curiosity of cosmetic chemists around the globe, but
perhaps none more so than those at Guerlain, who have
spent more than 15 years studying and testing thousands
of orchid varieties in their Geneva-based ‘orchidarium’.
To their delight, researchers found that several species
(of the 30,000-odd known ones in the Orchidaceae family)
can potentially slow down the cell-aging process in human
skin. Still more thrilling was the discovery that the gold
orchid had the potential to one-up the rest and reverse
the aging process in human cells.
“With the passing years and the accumulation of stress,
the vital energy of cells starts to run out of steam. Cellular
regeneration slows down and the skin loses its vitality,”
says Wendy. “It was at the heart of the gold orchid that
Guerlain discovered molecules capable of boosting energy
production and distribution within ‘mother’ cells in order
to reactivate the skin’s regeneration process.”
Emma Hobson, education manager for The International
Dermal Institute and for Dermalogica, says the orchid
is well known for its anti-aging properties in skincare.
“Orchid f lower extract has anti-inf lammatory, protective
moisturising and free radical properties that all work
together to help prevent the signs of premature aging.
It is also thought to stimulate collagen production.”
As well as the prized gold orchid, Guerlain has added
two new orchid extracts to its fourth generation Orchidée
Impériale cream, the Gastrodia elata and Phalaenopsis
amabilis, which it claims have the power to boost cell
respiration. “During cell respiration, the cell consumes
glucose and oxygen to produce the vital cell energy
needed for it to function properly,” says Wendy. “When
cell respiration is at its best, it produces the ideal vital
energy for it to regenerate properly. Cell respiration
is therefore the key to cell longevity.”
Although Guerlain grow this plant in their orchidarium,
they have also acknowledged the importance of reintroducing
and preserving the previously plundered species into their
native habitat, providing financial backing to set up an
exploratory reserve in the Yunnan region in China.
“The gold orchid, a sacred f lower, gifted with extraordinary
vital force, was the first orchid to be reimplanted in TianZi,”FLORAL INFUSIONS
Boost your winter beauty routine with some nourishing
orchid-based skincare products.
In a base of hazelnut oil, this Clarins Blue Orchid Face
Treatment Oil (30ml, $55) is blended with blue orchid,
rosewood and patchouli to soften, deeply hydrate and
give your skin a healthy glow. Press a few drops onto
clean, damp skin and enjoy the calming aroma of this
preservative free nourishing oil.
On many women’s wish lists, Guerlain Orchidée
Impériale 4G Cream ($570) is a luxurious cream infused
with the regenerative gold orchid that targets all signs
of aging including wrinkles, firmness and sagging,
texture and tone while re-energising the skin.
There’s nothing better than sinking into a warm,
sweetly scented bath to relax and revive after a long
day. Sprinkle your bath with muscle relaxing Epsom
salts or your favourite bath oil then generously apply
a nourishing body lotion such as L’Occitane Néroli and
Orchidée Body Milk (245ml, $42) that combines neroli
from the Mediterranean and white orchid aromas from
Madagascar with a hint of citrus.
If you’re looking to add one nourishing product to
your routine to protect your skin this winter, try this
Dermalogica Phyto Replenish Oil (30ml, $120). This
product has a mix of potent plant extracts including
tamanu, chia and sunf lower seed oils that are rich in
antioxidants to fight free radicals. Plus, the orchid
f lower rebalances and repairs the skin’s barrier. A few
drops mixed into your moisturiser or applied directly
to your face and neck will protect you from the dry
winter winds during the cool months ahead.says Wendy, who adds that some 10,000 species have now
been reintroduced, including Vanda coerulea, commonly
known as the blue orchid, “a delicate, rare wild orchid that
holds the secret of eternal youth”.
Emma agrees that, while science can prove that orchid
extract can fight free radicals and help reduce the appearance
of fine lines, there is also an element of mysticism and allure
in the use of rare plants in skincare. “It would be wonderful
to think that the magic of an orchid is not just its outside
appearance, but also that the beautiful texture of each unique
leaf reflects the same texture it could achieve for the skin.”COUNTRY STYLE JUNE 2017 127FACING PAGE, PHOTOGRAPHY
JOSE A. BERNAT BACETE/GETTY IMAGES
HEALTH AND BEAUTYFROM LEFT Dermalogica
Phyto Replenish Oil (30ml,
$120). Guerlain Orchidée
Impériale 4G Cream ($570).
Clarins Blue Orchid Face
Treatment Oil (30ml, $55).
L’Occitane Néroli and
Orchidée Body Milk
(245ml, $42). For stockist
details, see page 134.