A species of apple called the Uttwiler Spatlauber from Northern Switzerland is being heralded as the latest anti-ageing breakthrough. I kid you not – A-list stars including Jennifer Aniston, Michelle Obama and Gwyneth Paltrow have already been reaping the benefits.

Sadly, eating a Granny Smith won’t cut it. What sets the Uttwiler Spatlauber species apart is its ability to stay wrinkle free for up to four months after being harvested. This caught the eye of scientists at Mibelle Biochemistry (a company that creates active ingredients for the cosmetic industry) in Switzerland.

The science bit: Mibelle and Lancome have independently tested the Swiss apple and found its resilient stem cells slowed the ageing process in humans, too. The apple stem cells have also shown that they can protect the human cells from UV damage. In clinical trials using a cream containing 2 per cent of the Uttweiler Spatlauber extract, Mibelle Biochemistry found that the wrinkle depth of crows feet under the eyes of 20 participants was reduced by an average of 15 per cent after four weeks. Lancome saw a 30 per cent overall improvement in women over 50 after two months of using their Absolue Precious Cells Day Cream every day.

Lancome launched a cream containing the wonder ingredient back September in and other brands have been quick to follow suit. The only catch? These moisturisers don’t come cheap. There are just 20 Utwiller Spatlauber trees left (some online rumours have claimed there are as few as eight), so the ingredient is in short supply.

Lancome’s Absolue Precious Cells Day Cream is £118; Cellular Lifting Serum by Clark’s Botanicals (Michelle Obama and Gwyneth Paltrow are fans) is £335. Dr Kadir’s Apple Lift Moisturiser, £63, and Super H Serum, £215, and M Cream, £195, both by 3Labs all contain PhytoCellTec™ Malus Domestica, Mibelle Biochemistry’s active ingredient created using the Uttwiler Spatlauber cells.

Maybe that apple a day saying had some truth to it.