Fountain of Youth or Just Another F Word?

          Magnified Plant Stem in 3D

According to Dermascope, plant stem cell technology is the most exciting and important breakthrough in topical skin care for decades.  Every plant possesses the natural ability to protect itself and to enhance its own life cycle.  By extracting certain cells from plants who excel at this and then cultivating them in the lab, scientists can deliver these protective ingredients with 1000 times more potency than those found in the original molecules.  Of course the implications for the multi-billion dollar anti-aging cosmeceutical industry are HUGE!

Because these fortified ingredients are cultured in the lab from only a minute sample of cells, this new technology is reported to be eco-friendly and sustainable.  After all, no plants are killed in the process, no vast amounts of farmland is required, and no water, fertilizers, or pesticides are needed for cultivation.  According to the cosmetic chemists and the big corporations they work for, this is the closest thing to the fountain of youth we'll ever see.  And they aren't wasting a minute of time to jump on the bandwagon either.

As with all untested technologies that seriously tamper with Mother Nature, I remain cautious and skeptical.  Are there any possible adverse health effects?   Environmental effects?  Whatever happened to growing old gracefully?  And what about genetic engineering?  The next thing you know they'll be artificially concocting super strains of edelweiss, lilac, and gardenia (3 front runners in plant stem cell cosmeceutical research) to cater to the millions of aging baby boomers who are so desparately trying to remain young... at any cost.

Can you say... "Frankenskin"?

Fall Flowers

The landscape outside the soap shop is exploding with beautiful wildflowers!  This medley of purple/yellow/orange is especially nice.  What colors your world?