BEYOND SKIN DEEP

At the lush Madagascar Open-Sky Lab, the composition of the Vanilla Planifolia is distilled to form a precious extract found in the Chanel SUBLIMAGE range.

- Arissa Ha

In the lush Ambanja region of Madagascar, within the nurturing confines of the Chanel Open-Sky Lab, unfolds a story as delicate as it is complex. Here, the Vanilla Planifolia reveals its secrets in a fleeting annual bloom. The meticulous care invested in these ephemeral blossoms, hand-pollinated within mere hours of their appearance, reflects Chanel's deep commitment to nurturing beauty at its most elemental. This dedication forms the foundation of their pioneering work in the study of senescence, the intricate biological process where cells lose their vitality, influencing the skin's journey with time.

AGEING AT A CELLULAR LEVEL 

Chanel's skincare innovation is rooted in the study of senescence, a biological phenomenon where cells progressively lose their division capability, inluencing skin ageing. In this process, while most cells are typically replaced by younger ones, some cease dividing and accumulate, becoming 'senescent' cells that disrupt neighbouring cells and hasten ageing. Senescence unfolds in three stages: initiation, where cells show early ageing signs; diffusion, as these cells emit stress signals triggering similar ageing in adjacent cells; and installation, the stage marked by an accumulation of aged cells leading to more pronounced akin ageing signs. Addressing senescence effectively requires not just prevention but also the activation of natural processes to eliminate and recycle these senescent cells.