Get ready for Spring

Get ready for spring

The calendar says March, and we have put the dark and cold months behind us. Now we long to get out and feel the milder temperatures and sense the sun’s young rays.

Indoor cosiness gives way to outdoor life as the days get longer, the winter jacket can be swapped for a lighter transition jacket and if you find a patch of sun in the shade, coffee can be enjoyed to-go in good company. Shrubs and trees spring up, flowers slowly sprout, longer walks in nature and the buzz of life in the city streets.

There are so many positive things about spring, and we are celebrating the beauty of spring with our spring campaign:

The Beauty of ..

… SUNSHINE … NATURE … SMILES … GLOW …

The Beauty of SPRING

From winter to spring skin

More time outdoors, sunshine on our faces and the prospect of soon being able to roll up our sleeves and trouser legs and air out some bare skin, are triggering some new needs in us skincare enthusiasts, and we are going into a kind of preparation mode.

The mission is: To maintain healthy skin, prepare the skin for the sun AND get a natural glow.

We guide you below to different skin care products for spring.

What are the skin’s needs in spring?

We have just come from freezing temperatures, cold winds and blazing radiators, which often make people turn to a greasier cream that provides a lot of moisture and skin protection. Partly because eczema and itchiness often accompany dry skin, which we really want to avoid, and partly because moisturised skin helps to delay the signs of ageing.

In spring, the skin is exposed to temperature and weather changes. One day it can be mild and warm – and then the weather gods tease with a little frost and snow the next day. So the skin still needs to be well hydrated and because we spend more hours outdoors, the skin is also exposed to more external influences, such as sunlight, polluted air, etc. that affect the skin.

This puts demands on our skin care products, but luckily there are some ingredients that help us on our way to maintaining healthy skin. In addition to moisturisers such as Glycerin and Squalane, there is also vitamin C.

Vitamin C in skin care

Many associate vitamin C as the number one remedy for fighting snot and runny noses, and vitamin C also has a big impact on your immune system and can reduce fatigue and exhaustion. But vitamin C can do much more than that.

Vitamin C positively affects your body in a number of ways!

Energy boost for the skin with collagen and antioxidants

Vitamin C increases collagen content

Collagen is a word that is on most people’s lips when talking about maintaining a youthful appearance, as collagen maintains firmness and elasticity of the skin. But what is collagen?

In short, collagen is a protein that helps build bones, cartilage, tendons, skin and more. Collagen maintains our connective tissue function, allowing it to ‘hold together’ the body and keep it strong and resilient. The connective tissue is the ‘glue’, you might say.

In our young years the body has a naturally high content of collagen in the body, but with age this amount will decrease and the connective tissue will weaken as a result. This can be seen in the skin becoming more lax and wrinkled, there may be cellulite on the thighs and the body loses its smoothness and elasticity. It can also show up as bones and joints starting to ‘crack’ or scrub when we move – the typical signs of age that tell us our bodies aren’t as strong as they used to be.

This is why collagen is important for the body, and this is where vitamin C comes in, because vitamin C goes directly to increasing the body’s collagen production and thus the connective tissue’s functionality. Vitamin C is therefore a source of increased collagen and thus also a source of anti-ageing.

What are free radicals?

Free radicals are unstable molecules that arise as a by-product of the enormous energy expenditure by the body’s cells. The body’s cells are always busy; busy fighting off foreign microorganisms, growing and dividing, renewing and rebuilding, and that requires a lot of energy, and the by-product of that process is free radicals.
It can be compared to exhaust gas from a car. The car burns fuel to run and, based on this combustion, it emits exhaust gas.  Cells use a lot of energy to function optimally and from this process free radicals are released.

Free radicals have a negative impact on the body. They try to attach themselves to healthy substances in the body and if they succeed, the substance will oxidize – that is, it will lose its effect or be ‘reprogrammed’ in an inappropriate way, which can lead to cell changes.

What can antioxidants do?

And that is when the antioxidants from vitamin C come into play. Antioxidants go in and prevent the free radicals from attaching to the healthy substances in the body. Antioxidants simply neutralise the free radicals. In fact, you could say that antioxidants are to your body what Car Free Sunday is to the environment.

There will always be free radicals in the body, but we can do something to reduce them. On the other hand, there are some external aspects that increase the amount that we can reduce. It can be the sun’s rays, consumption of fatty food or alcohol, air pollution, cigarette smoke, infections in the body and the like, that put the cells into overtime, and we can be aware of adding antioxidants through diet and our care products.

The skin-enhancing properties of vitamin C

Vitamin C is therefore a bit of a miracle ingredient in your skin care, because it can:

• Strengthen skin by maintaining elasticity and firmness of connective tissue
• Protect the skin against external influences
• Fight sun damage, including pigment changes
• Provide a smoother surface on the skin
• Provide healthy and strong skin that has plenty of glow

We do not have natural levels of vitamin C in our bodies, so we need to get the vitamin either through our diet or skincare to benefit from its unique and super-boosting properties.

Our specialty is effective skin care products that strengthen the skin, so we will now take a look at them.

Spring creams for well-cared-for skin

As well as emphasising vitamin C for its powerful qualities, there are other ingredients and properties we prioritise in our spring creams.

This spring, we are moving away from the richer creams and being drawn to the lighter creams that still maintain a necessary high moisture content in the skin, but which work lighter on the skin.

Moisturising day cream for all skin types

One of our favourites for spring is the classic moisturising day cream, which is made for all skin types. It provides intense and long-lasting hydration to the skin without being greasy. t is applied in a thin layer that quickly penetrates the skin, leaving your skin moisturised for many hours.

Of moisturizing ingredients we can highlight:

• Squalane, which occurs naturally in the skin. Like collagen, Squalane decreases with age and skin will become dry and lose elasticity. Squalane is particularly effective in creams as the skin recognises it and therefore allows it to pass down through the skin layers to where it can really trigger skin renewal.
• Glycerin, which is at the top of moisturising ingredients. It works in the top layer of the skin, providing softness and suppleness. It is a vegetable Glycerin which can be used by even the most sensitive skin types
• Hydrolysed collagen and Hyaluronic acid that together form an effective, invisible moisture shield on the skin

So it is packed with good, moisturising ingredients as well as vitamin C. It is formulated for both normal and combination skin, and we have also developed a dry skin variant that also contains pharmaceutical grade lanolin for added moisture, as well as a fragrance-free version of both.

Moisturised skin is the first step to exposing fine lines, but if you want extra anti-aging power, it’s a good idea to supplement with Defy Damage Serum, which works brilliantly under your moisturising day cream.

Dreading oily skin this spring?

If you have oily or greasy skin, the thought of warmer temperatures can make you worry about shiny skin in the sun, and you may not want to apply a highly moisturising cream.

The answer is: Oil-free moisturising lotion!

Our oil-free lotion is made specifically for combination and oily skin types, without compromising on moisturising ingredients.

The cream contains some of the same moisturisers as the classic moisturiser: Squalane, Hydrolysed collagen and Hyaluronic acid, to give skin the moisture it needs. At the same time, the ingredients are tuned so that the skin does not feel greasy, but rather provides a matte surface – ideal under makeup.

Again, you have the option to supplement with the Defy Damage Serum as an anti-age provider, as it also works really well under oil-free.

Defy Damage Serum – liquid anti-aging for the skin

Defy Damage Skin Repair Serum is an often overlooked product, although it is an eminent anti-age brings.

It includes:

• Vitamin A esters, which in combination with Squalane can be transported* deep into the skin, down to where it has the greatest anti-aging effect. Squalane is also a natural moisturiser already present in the body
• Vitamin C, as we have established, is a wonderful ingredient in skin care, among other things.
• Hyaluronic acid and Hydrolysed collagen, which together form a moisture shield on the skin
• Sodium Ursolate and Sodium Oleanate, which have unique abilities to repair age- and sun-damaged skin. They restore lost collagen structure, give skin back its ‘young life’ and show visible restoration of the skin’s surface
• 7 different natural extracts that have a formidable firming effect

So the Defy Damage serum is a real little powerhouse that can make significant improvements to your skin. Light in texture, it can be used by all skin types and is an obvious source of anti-ageing under your day creams without vitamin A, such as the Moisturising Day Cream or Oil Free Lotion. Always use on cleansed face and before other creams.

*Read about Beauté’s patented transport system here.

Prepare the skin for the spring sun

Although the sun can appear in all seasons, be aware that the UV index increases already from spring until summer. This means that you must include sun protection in your daily skin care routine, as you will be more exposed to sun damage to your skin.

• Even if you use creams with vitamin C, which fight the free radicals from the sun’s rays, it is not enough.

How sensitive your skin is to the sun’s rays varies from person to person. A good guideline is to use at least SPF 15 and preferably higher during the spring and summer months. Of course, it also depends on how much time you spend outdoors, but we all know the heady feeling of spring in the cities and longer walks with a to-go cup, or the beginning of garden preparation, which is also picking up.

Sun protection for the face

For the best protection, we recommend that you choose to complement your regular day cream with a sunscreen to get the best of both worlds.

Our sun series Stay offers protection for the whole body. In most cases, a good sun protection cream for the face is enough for the first time, until temperatures creep up and we start wearing shorter shirts and trousers.

Our Stay Beautiful is an obvious choice.

It has SPF 30, which provides really good, healthy protection from the sun’s rays. It repels both UVB and UVA rays, also adds moisture with its Glycerin content, and then has the anti-aging effect from our special Chilean grape seed oil (which some will know from our Paradoxe series).

If you have a normal skin type, you will be able to use Stay Beautiful as a day cream, but it can also be used over your normal day cream.

If you are curious about our body sunscreens or our delicious sun oils, you can get to know our entire Stay series here.

Get a spring glow on your face

But how do we get that luscious glow we crave if we wrap ourselves in sunscreen?

Most people know the panic the first time they have to show bare legs, ankles, arms, décolleté, etc. The skin has been hidden behind layers of clothing for many months and you almost feel your winter-pale skin blinding the people around you. There is not the shadow of GLOW or sun-kissed skin.

So what do you do?

The road to a beautiful glow begins with healthy, well-cared for and, not least, well-moisturised skin,
and the way to achieve this is by caring for your skin on a daily basis with cleansers, body lotions and moisturisers. Glow is not the same as tanned skin, but rather the natural radiance of healthy, strong and well-cared for skin.

To give your skin maximum care and be one step closer to a beautiful glow, complement your daily routine with a peeling and mask every now and then. This way, your skin will stand strong and glow in itself, where a dry and non-moisturised skin might have a greyish and tired look.

If you want to know more about the importance of peeling for the skin, you can read more about it here.

We have also put together a post about the good masks and their importance for your skin.

Do you already use these care routines, or do you want to do something different or even more? Add a serum to your skin care routine.

Facial serum for glow

A serum product is a complement to your day cream. It cannot stand alone, but would like a cream to lean on and be complementary to.

The special thing about serums is that they are more concentrated in their compositions, so they provide more intense care and can really give your skin a boost that your creams cannot do on their own.

We have different serums depending on your skin, age and needs:

• Superfruit serum: Unique, water-based serum with extracts and juices from Nordic superfruits such as sea buckthorn, mulberry, cranberry, sugar beet and birch. The superfruits contribute smoothing effects, maintenance of elasticity and a deep and stable moisture boost – that is, in a mild but effective way that will be seen in the skin for a long time with frequent use. When the skin is moisturised, it will result in fewer blemishes, less redness, an even surface on the skin and thus more of the coveted GLOW.We recommend Superfruit for young skin that doesn’t yet have many or obvious signs of ageing but wants to prevent and keep skin robust and healthy.
• Paradoxe serum: A lovely serum that is built on very few, but very effective, ingredients. Paradoxe is developed over our unique grape seed oil (GSPE), which is rich in Resveratrol and Procyanidin, which are highly active anti-inflammatories, vasoconstrictors, and have strong anti-aging properties. The serum fills in the small pores and imperfections on the skin’s surface, providing a better foundation for makeup but also paving the way for beautiful GLOWING skin.Serum Paradoxe can be used by all skin types, and is especially recommended if you suffer from dry skin or the skin disorder Rosacea. Due to the anti-aging effect, Paradoxe is recommended for mature skin where loss of elasticity, fine lines and wrinkles appear.
• Symphonique serum: The ultimate anti-aging serum. The serum contains 2 types of Hyaluronic acids, which provide instant moisture, while a peptide is added to improve the skin’s own production of Hyaluronic acid. In this way, the serum has a strong rejuvenating effect.
  In addition, the serum contains another peptide, which is a mimic of snake venom that provides a botox-like effect by acting muscle relaxant. Furthermore, we can highlight the ingredients Niacinamide and Glycerin, which are fantastic moisturisers.Serum Symphonique is designed primarily for mature skin, as younger skin rarely needs such a big moisture boost as this serum provides as well as the powerful anti-aging effect.

A little extra tip: If you want to take care of your skin and GLOW during the day, you can use a face mist, which is easy to spray on the skin during the day. Our Superfruit Facemist Mist provides moisture, which gives the skin radiance – and it’s just gorgeous and refreshing on a busy day.

Glow to the body

Just as the face needs daily care, so does the rest of the body. The body is exposed to hot baths, which can be drying in themselves, and many people are bad at skipping body lotion.

The optimal conditions for beautiful spring skin are to cleanse the skin and build up a lot of moisture. It starts with a good body shampoo that moisturises and softens, and at least one good body lotion for either normal or dry skin. For an extra boost, you can also use a body scrub in between to remove dead skin cells from the surface. This will give you a fresh ‘canvas’ to work with and your skin will be able to get the most out of moisturising creams.

The glow on the body comes in the same way as on the face; namely by being thoroughly moistened.

As a counterpart to the above serums for the face, we have a product that has a similar effect for the body. It’s our Paradoxe body oil.

• Paradoxe Bodyoil has both anti-aging effect and moisturizers that make the skin silky soft. Like Paradoxe Serum, the body oil contains our special grape seed oil with Resveratrol and Procyanidin, which are powerful anti-aging ingredients and also antioxidants that reduce free radicals.
  In addition, the oil contains Squalane, the skin’s natural moisturiser, which penetrates deep into the dermis and restores from within.
  The body oil is pure luxury for the skin, which after use will appear more even and supple – and that’s just GLOW for the skin.

Spring glow with a good self-tanner

There is the natural glow and then there is the applied glow.

Maybe you’ve done your bit to make your body glow, but you still think it could do with a bit more colour? Hungry for the summer sun and can’t wait? Or are you so diligent with sunscreen that summer tan is a non-existent phenomenon in your world?

You can ‘cheat’ your way to colour and glow with a great self-tanner.

We have been working on our Stay Tanned self-tanner for a long time. We only want to launch products that have skin-enhancing properties – so as well as giving you a gorgeous tan, it needs to be able to do more.

This is why we have added a number of moisturising and strengthening ingredients to Stay Tanned in addition to the self-tanning effect. In fact, the self-tanner has an intensely moisturising formula so it doesn’t dry out the skin in any way, and it stays beautiful on the skin. It has a light and pleasant texture that can be used both on the face and body.

It is infused with two self-tanning actives: DHA and Erythrulose.

DHA gives a natural and tanned glow in a few hours. It reacts with the amino acids found in the skin’s surface to form pigments similar to those you would naturally produce when sunbathing. The DHA is purified so you don’t get that scratchy self-tanner smell.

Erythrulose works like DHA but is long-acting and more gentle. That means you get a natural, long-lasting and even tan without streaks. It actually boosts colour formation in the skin.

For best results, exfoliate skin before use to avoid colour differences due to dry patches or dead skin cells. We recommend our Bio-Dermabrasion Peeling Wipes or the classic Body Scrub.

The colour will appear 2-4 hours after application, providing lasting colour for 4-7 days, after which you can choose to build more colour if you wish.Want to do even more? Supplement with our La Forte supplement, which builds skin from the inside out.

Recap: How to get your skin ready for spring and sun

• Provide moisture care
• Always remember to cleanse the skin
• Complement with peeling and a good mask in between
• REMEMBER sunscreen
• Use Stay tanned self-tanner – the fastest way to GLOW
• Add vitamin C to your skin – either in your creams or with La Forte supplements

Tip: If you need extra moisture throughout the day, you can grab our Facemist in your bag.