The Val Senales Glacier is part of one of the largest mountain formations in the world, stretching along the Main Alpine Ridge between Austria and South Tyrol, Italy. At its heart lies the Hochjochferner Glacier, a vast ice mass extending 3 km in length.
Each spring, as the glacier slowly recedes, it unveils a natural treasure — a fine mineral-rich sand known as glacial till, the result of millennia of glacial movement. This unique sediment, rich in rare minerals, forms the distinct geological fingerprint of the Hochjochferner.
During the summer months, as vibrant alpine flowers bloom in the newly thawed areas, the glacier landscape transforms into a stunning mosaic of blue, red, and yellow blossoms. These seasonal changes have long fascinated Paul Grüner, a passionate mountaineer and owner of the Bella Vista mountain refuge, who carefully observed the glacier’s evolving ecosystem over the years.
But the healing properties of the glacier were already recognized in 1864 by Dr. Georg Götsch, a physician from Merano. He documented the remarkable effects of glacier exposure on skin conditions, noting not only the benefits of the fresh mountain air but also an unexplained positive impact on the skin.
More than a century later, Paul Grüner, in collaboration with leading universities and researchers, set out to investigate the glacier’s hidden potential. Their studies led to the extraction of MICA GLACIAL®, a unique mineral complex derived from glacial till, rich in skin-rejuvenating properties.
This discovery became the foundation of GLACISSE — a skincare line that harnesses the nourishing, restorative, and revitalizing powers of the glacier.