Arnica Montana is a powerful botanical widely used in skincare, herbal medicine, and homeopathic formulations.

Thriving in alpine meadows, this golden-flowered herb creates a stunning sea of blooms in late spring and early summer. If you explore Telluride’s Imogene Basin, you might even spot arnica growing wild.

Packed with over 150 active compounds, arnica is rich in phytonutrients, including sesquiterpene lactones—potent compounds known for their antimicrobial, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties.

For centuries, North American Indigenous peoples have relied on arnica for its soothing effects on bruises and muscle soreness. European herbalists adopted its use in the 16th century, brewing it into medicinal teas to support healing.

Today, this skin-nourishing extract is a star ingredient in our Alpine Phytonutrient Serum—and for good reason. Keep reading to discover how this alpine flower can transform your complexion.

5 Skin Benefits of Arnica Montana

1. Recovery & Protection

Arnica helps safeguard the skin against collagen and elastin breakdown caused by UVB exposure. By neutralizing oxidative stress, it may support the skin’s natural ability to recover from environmental damage.

2. Revitalizing & Repairing

Rich in fibronectin-stimulating compounds, arnica supports cellular renewal and tissue repair. Fibronectin is a crucial glycoprotein that maintains skin structure, making arnica an ideal ingredient for improving resilience and recovery.

3. Anti-Aging & Rejuvenation

Arnica is packed with flavonoids and phenolic compounds—potent antioxidants that help combat free radical damage. These elements may shield the skin from premature aging, reducing the impact of environmental stressors.

4. Brightening & Even-Toning

Struggling with dullness or dark spots? Arnica may help by inhibiting tyrosinase, an enzyme responsible for melanin production. This process can lead to a more radiant, even-toned complexion over time.

5. Calming & Soothing

Arnica is excellent for reducing puffiness, redness, and irritation. Its natural anti-inflammatory properties help soothe stressed skin, making it a fantastic option for those prone to sensitivity.

How to Incorporate Arnica into Your Skincare Routine

Harness the power of this alpine botanical by incorporating it into your daily regimen. Our Alpine Phytonutrient Serum delivers a concentrated dose of arnica extract, helping to restore, protect, and brighten your skin with every use.

Effective recovery skincare starts with premium ingredients that go well beyond average. Our science-backed secret at TellurideGlow is integrating high-performance and high-grade extremophiles, with minimal processing, into every TellurideGlow formula. 

Extreme-O what?!?

An extremophile is an organism that thrives in physically or geochemically extreme conditions that are detrimental to most life on Earth. Extremophiles hail from the harshest environments on the planet, including mountainous regions. In the plant kingdom, botanical extremophiles are also known as  extremophytes.

Not all antioxidants are alike. It is the very nature of extremophiles to thrive where other organisms cannot, doing so by producing potent secondary metabolites that manufacture an abundance of phytonutrients, the real workhorses of antioxidants that encourage regeneration, discourage inflammation and defend against aggression.

Palpable botanical benefits are the phytoceramides, essential fatty acids, phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals in abundance that help keep both plants and skin healthy and vitalized.

Think of extremophiles as the Olympic athletes of plants. They continually train harder and perform better than the average plant, and the results are more profound.

How it all started

Our founder, Mary Alice, had a mission to not let the unforgiving climate of Telluride, Colorado win the battle over healthy skin. Depleted skin became the norm from living about 9,000 feet above sea level with low oxygen and humidity, intense UV radiation, and extreme wind, snowfall, and temperatures. Nothing worked, at any price. 

Her research led right outside of her window in the 13,000 to 14,000 majestic peaks surrounding Telluride. The most brutal growing conditions in the world also produce the most powerful, high-performance plants in the world, and those plants became integral to TellurideGlow’s Recovery Skincare.

TellurideGlow delivers results with some of the industry’s highest concentrations of powerful nutrients from 13 fortifying alpine survivalist plants to transport the energy of nature right to your skin.

We harness the power of over 50 of the highest-grade botanical ingredients for complete skin-beautifying nutrition. Every product is 100% natural with actives that help to accelerate regeneration, way beyond average.

Alpine plant power is at the heart of every TellurideGlow creation, formulated with the highest ratios and the greatest variety of cytoprotective alpine botanicals on the market for unsurpassed skin revival.

 “I love this oil! It's the best moisturizer for this dry, rotten climate I live in!” ~Cynthia 

Hardworking alpine recovery botanicals restore skin health 

We step beyond the boundaries of Telluride to find extremophile plants with the most active, skin-boosting whole-plant ingredients that can only be found in exotic higher elevations, and make them the foundation for elevated recovery skincare.

Antioxidant-rich Cloudberries withstanding temperatures of 40 below zero in Arctic Scandinavia

Rare and protected Edelweiss from the Swiss Alps with more free radical fighting ability than vitamin C

Himalayan Sea Buckthorn Berries with over 190 micronutrients that feed your skin

Rare, mineral-rich Glacial Clay from the Southern Alps of New Zealand

Skin-smoothing Aspen Bark plus mountain meadow Arnica to boost circulation

Actives from these survivalist plants keep your skin feeling so nourished that you can walk out of the house without giving it a second thought.

“You have a beautiful product! Yesterday I went to physical therapy, so no makeup. Everyone kept telling me how beautiful my skin is!!” ~G. Johnson

Vibrant skin to withstand urban agression

Harsh weather. Pollutants. Stress. Aging. Sensitivities. Outdoor lifestyles. They all contribute to skin aging faster than normal. And while we know we can’t stop aging, we know we can slow down its effects. 

 “Harsh weather conditions disrupt the skin surface barrier affecting the skin’s ability to retain moisture.” ~ Dr. Hextall, dermatologist, The Harley Medical Group    

Thanks to Mother Nature and her extremophiles, your skin can reclaim strength and resiliency, withstanding any modern-day stresses, anywhere.