The robust beauty from the Alps
The mountain houseleek
Did you know that the mountain houseleek is considered the native, hardy aloe vera? So if you appreciate the benefits of aloe vera, you should definitely get to know the mountain houseleek. In this blog post, you will learn more about this exciting succulent plant.
Sempervivum sylvestris
The mountain houseleek (Sempervivum montanum) is a fascinating plant native to the Alpine region. Its natural environment includes rocky areas and scree, while it can also be found on short-grass pastures at altitudes of 300 to 3400 meters. In addition to its wild beauty, the mountain houseleek is also often used as an ornamental plant in rock gardens or on dry stone walls.
Crassulaceae
with matt green rosettes
The mountain houseleek belongs to the Crassulaceae family of plants. This perennial plant is characterized by its evergreen properties, which means that it stays green all year round and retains its color even in the cold winter months. If you look closely, you will discover countless characteristic matte green rosettes that spread out in a star shape. These rosettes have a diameter of between 1 and 8 cm and give the plant a unique appearance. Another striking feature of the mountain houseleek is the red colored tip of the leaves.
Frugal Alpine inhabitant
The fleshy leaves of the mountain houseleek have a special property. They can store water in their tissue cells. This unique ability makes the mountain houseleek an extremely undemanding plant that can withstand wind and weather and requires very little water. These fleshy, water-storing leaves are perfectly adapted to the extreme weather conditions in the mountains, especially to long dry periods.
It is interesting to know that the mountain houseleek is considered a native, hardy alternative to aloe vera .
The effects of mountain houseleek on human skin are similar to those of other succulents. Mountain houseleek protects the skin from drying out and provides moisture, like aloe vera, for example.
It is therefore no wonder that mountain houseleek is contained in our Edelweiss hand balm, Edelweiss foot balm, hemp Chnübi and lipstick .
Homemade mountain houseleek extract
To produce our Alpine natural cosmetics, we use our own mountain houseleek extract. This is extracted from the leaves and plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of our natural products.
The production of the mountain houseleek extract requires skill and a fine sense. The robust leaves are carefully chopped by hand, either fresh or frozen, depending on the season. This step ensures that we can capture the full power of the plant and release the valuable ingredients.
The chopped leaves are then added to heated rapeseed oil. The extract is stirred regularly throughout the entire extraction process to ensure optimal mixing and extraction of the active ingredients . Monitoring the temperature plays a crucial role in ensuring that the ingredients can be dissolved slowly and gently.
After filtering, the extract obtained is filled into well-sealable glass containers and stored in a cool place until further processing.
By using our own mountain houseleek extract, we can ensure that our Alpine natural cosmetics not only contain natural ingredients, but also carry the pure power of the mountains. We are proud to be able to offer you high-quality natural products that are made with love and care.
Well-known and appreciated
Houseleek is an ancient medicinal and ornamental plant. Even the Romans and Germanic tribes appreciated its nourishing properties. Today it is often compared to the well-known aloe vera plant. And for good reason. The two plants have absolutely comparable properties and are used equally to support the treatment of minor wounds, burns and skin irritations. Both provide the skin with beneficial moisture and care for it.
When choosing our raw materials, we attach great importance to quality and sustainability. That is why we prefer the local mountain houseleek, which is grown in allotments in the picturesque Frutig Valley.
