How a century-old orchid inspires Guerlain’s new Longevity Cream
Most people admire orchids mainly for their ornamental value. But French luxury beauty brand Guerlain has spent the past two decades proving that one species in particular, Vanda coerulea, is far more than ornamental. Known as the “orchid of ten thousand generations”, this rare blue orchid can live for over a century, regenerating itself in even the most challenging conditions. Its resilience and longevity have made it the centrepiece of Guerlain’s research and the inspiration behind its new Longevity Cream, which launched last month.
Guerlain’s conservation work
The story begins in China’s Yunnan province, home to the Tianzi Reserve. Once degraded due to deforestation and farming, the reserve has been transformed over the past 14 years through Guerlain’s reforestation efforts, supported by ecologist Minguo Li-Margraf. More than 20,000 orchids have been reintroduced, alongside hundreds of thousands of trees. This living sanctuary not only revives biodiversity but also safeguards the natural habitat of a flower that embodies endurance and renewal.
Orchidée Impériale The Longevity Cream (Photo: Courtesy of Guerlain)
Guerlain's Longevity Cream blends skincare innovation with orchid conservation (Photo: Courtesy of Guerlain)
From nature to science
From this conservation work comes scientific insight. Guerlain’s dedicated research hub, the Orchidarium in Geneva, has studied the richness of Vanda coerulea’s phytochemicals—compounds that help the plant regenerate and resist stress. In collaboration with France’s INRAE® public research institute, Guerlain scientists have identified how these natural mechanisms can be harnessed for skin vitality. The result is Orchid Longevity™ technology, which is behind the new Longevity Cream that is designed to reactivate nine of the 12 key cellular pathways essential to maintaining cells’ youthfulness. Participants in the clinical trials said that the main signs of ageing felt reduced within one month of using the Longevity Cream.
The new Longevity Cream is designed to reactivate key cellular pathways linked to youthfulness (Photo: Courtesy of Guerlain)
Tests in Guerlain's labs have shown the cream can improve firmness, smoothness and radiance on the skin (Photo: Courtesy of Guerlain)
Much more than skin-deep beauty
The cream itself is positioned not just as a cosmetic, but as the culmination of 20 years of research into ageing at the cellular level. According to Guerlain, tests in its labs have shown the cream can improve firmness, smoothness and radiance on the skin, while slowing the signs of ageing.
The commitment to environmental responsibility extends to the product’s packaging: a luxurious refillable jar that is made primarily of cellulose, a mostly recyclable plant-based fibre.
In a market crowded with promises of youth, the Longevity Cream tells a different story—one where nature, eco-conservation and science converge harmoniously.
Discover more here.