The grape stem cells are obtained from cultures of meristematic cells of Vitis vinifera, harvested from unripe Italian grapes. They belong to the family of plant biotechnology actives, and what goes into the formula is not the cells themselves but the molecules they produce.
During cultivation, the cells are stimulated to overproduce phenols and stilbenes in glycosylated form, meaning bound to a sugar. This is the step that makes the difference: glycosylated molecules are much more stable and remain active in the formula, where free polyphenols would tend to degrade. The advantage of cell culture is also consistency—there is no variability linked to the vintage, soil, or time of harvest.
It is intended for mature skin and dull complexions of people exposed to daily environmental stress. It is used morning and evening in serums and creams; the manufacturer's in vivo tests document a 124% increase in the skin's antioxidant defenses, with a protective effect that lasts for more than six hours.
It is an ingredient that tells the story of an entirely Italian supply chain: Italian grapes, technology developed by an Italian university spin-off, and production in Italy. In a sector where most biotechnology actives come from foreign laboratories, this is not a minor detail.
On our blog, you can find an in-depth article on what plant stem cells really do in cosmetics.
