Flower power

The scent of the Swiss alps in one anti-ageing-cream jar

New York City is an awfully long way from mountainous Megève – and in particular the idyllic Les Fermes de Marie, an Haute Savoie hotel with a classic ski-chalet vibe. While travelling away from the Big Apple, I had the chance to visit this rustic-chic spot – and its sensational Pure Altitude Spa – last summer, and it was here that I discovered a skincare line made up of simple alpine plants, minerals and nourishing antioxidants.

I am not typically a spa-goer, but the low-key nature of this particular spot enticed me, and Pure’s signature Crème Edelweiss No 1 (€50) has been a beauty staple of mine ever since. This protecting and hydrating cream is wonderfully lightweight and free of cloying scent, which means that I can use it year round – morning, noon and night. I have naturally dry skin and this edelweiss-infused potion provides instant hydration and appears (if my constant scrutiny has shown correctly) to have decreased the fine lines and wrinkles around my sensitive eye area.

The secret in this little wonder jar is the Swiss edelweiss that has been harvested by hand and later dehydrated and infused into all of Pure’s formulations, mixed in Valréas, France. I’ve come to learn that this hearty special ingredient – which is considered to have potent anti-ageing benefits – is especially soothing and protective to distressed skin that has been exposed to harsh pollutants (that would be mine), changes in weather and the sun’s harmful rays.

More than the pre-make-up mosturising benefits that the cream provides, I find this fresh, clean product to be emotionally transporting. I may be looking out over a bustling Manhattan skyline each day, but after a dollop of Crème Edelwiss No 1, the peaceful, pristine Alps don’t seem that far away at all.