BEAUTY OF PLANTS
From Anogeissus leiocarpus and Ganoderma lucidum to Rosa roxburghii and Zingiber officinale, species in the Plant Kingdom are no longer only familiar among botany buffs, with consumers also learning more about their beauty benefits at the revamped Origins cosmetic counters at The Emporium and The Mall Bangkae.
Marking its 25th anniversary, the natural skincare brand has given the counters a complete facelift, inspired by a glass house and a botanist’s laboratory, to give consumers an educational shopping experience.
The retail space now comes under the concept “Discovering Our Journey From Plant To Formula”, with one section referred to as the Explorer’s Studio featuring a library, plant exhibits, equipment room, utility shed, self-study and working stations. A world map shows where the plant ingredients are sourced and the salesperson can tell you about their traditional usage and how it has been transferred to a jar of Origins natural skincare product.
As plant performance is validated by age-old folklore, researchers believe that they are better chemists than humans.
“Over 80% of the world use plants as their primary medicine. It has been estimated that there are about 500,000 plant species on earth. And each of those plants contains approximately 10,000 active materials. That’s an incredible source of inspiration for new medications, new foods, new technologies and, of course, new skincare products,” said Lieve DeClercq, the director of Origins global plant science team.
The exhibits include Rose of Jericho, which looks like a ball of dead weed. In the extremely dry conditions of the Judean desert, the plant curls up to counteract dehydration but with a drop of water, it can amazingly return to life — earning it the title of Resurrection Plant. This inspired Origins researchers to harness its rehydrating property for the Make A Difference collection.
The American skincare brand also collaborates with universities around the world, including the University of Arizona, where Dr Andrew Weil is an expert on medicinal herbs. The collaboration led to the Mega-Bright collection containing a Rosa roxburghii complex and Mega-Mushroom range featuring reishi, chaga and cordyceps.
The mushrooms are displayed with a picture of the Great Wall of China, to evoke how the Chinese have long believed in reishi as a promoter of strength and longevity. At the Origins labs, its skin-protective compounds were identified and bottled into Mega-Mushroom formulas for stressed and sensitive skin.
Elements of the botanist’s lab have been incorporated into the redesigned counters, where there is a display of natural ingredients and flasks of natural essential oils. A combination of essential oils, according to Origins, can awaken skin’s self-correcting ability and better product performance.