Bye bye dry winter skin!

Winter here in Scandinavia can be quite tough for even the healthiest skin. I tend to spend too much time indoors and outside the cold air makes my skin feel like it’s a couple of sizes too small. It can get itchy and irritated and I have realized that I have to change my skincare routine during the cold winter. One thing that’s always important is to keep your skin deeply hydrated and maybe use a little bit more cream than in the summer. A dry skin simply needs more of everything.

Here are some products that keep my winter skin happy:

Melting cleansing balm or Cleansing oil – Make sure to use a cleanser that doesn’t dry out your skin. I love anything oil based that gently removes dirt and makeup without drying out. Massage over face, add water, massage again and rinse off.

Treatment enzyme peel – My bestselling 1-minute enzyme peel with aha- and bha- acids remove all dead skin cells in an instant. Use once a week and get that healthy glow back.

Moisturising intense cream and serum – Two super hydrating products that you can combine as you want. Make sure to use the serum before your day- and night cream for that extra hydration.

Moisturising facial mist – a perfect hydrating mist that keep my skin hydrated during the day. Apply anytime during the day for extra hydration. Works great over your makeup.

Treatment overnight repair mask – I use this deeply hydrating and repairing mask 2-3 times a week during the winter. After cleansing, apply this creamy mask to dry skin and keep it on all night (and no, it doesn’t get sticky). Rinse off in the morning.

”It’s a real thirst quencher for your skin”

The new moisturising series is here! Tell us, why did you decide to redo the series?

– I have always been nerdily interested in skincare and ingredients and I always pay attention to what’s happening in the business. The last few years a lot of new and exciting hydrating ingredients have popped up and that is why we have chosen to redo the moisturising series. The new series has brand new formulas, packaging and textures.

What is new with the series?

– For example, we have loaded the new series with low molecular Hyaluronic acid, a 3-step moisturising system called Trimoist that hydrates both immediately and long-term, more protective Antioxidants and also a sunscreen in the day cream.

What is special with low molecular Hyaluronic acid and Antioxidants?

– Low molecular Hyaluronic acid (which you can find in all four products) works deeper in the skin and binds moisture. The new serum also has two sizes of molecules that bind moisture on two different levels of the skin. Antioxidants are great for protecting the skin against free radicals that come from e.g. pollution, UV-light or emissions.

Who should use the series?

– The series is suitable for all ages and skin types, and of course for both men and women. After all, everybody needs a great moisturiser.

You have also had all the products undergo independent studies at a testing institute. Tell us more.

– For us it is very important to conduct independent studies so that we can measure the effects of the finished products, and not just the ingredients included. We’ve seen some great results where the studies show that you after three weeks of use have strengthened your skin barrier and improved the moisture balance significantly.

How will you use the products this summer?

– The new moisturising series is perfect to use during the summer if I don’t want something active every day (I usually use the ultimates series). We have added a sunscreen in the day cream which is something I have missed… moisturising serum is a real thirst quencher after a day in the sun! I also keep my eye gel in the fridge for an extra cooling and de-puffing effect in the morning.

What is your number one summer tip for healthy skin? 

– That’s a hard one. But I have to say use a day cream with sunscreen. And keep an eye gel on the nightstand to boost the delicate eye area with extra moisture every night. Other than that, my best beauty tip is always to exercise! It gives both me and my skin energy and glow.

Treatment Super Balm – Beauty Hacks

“Our treatment super balm is a rich, softening balm with oils from Oat, Shea fruit and Canola that I use liberally on lips, cuticles and other dry spots. It calms and moisturizes and has a delicate aroma of natural Vanilla. I keep a tube in my handbag, one at the office and one by my night stand and apply a little bit here and there whenever needed. Also, it provides just the right amount of shine to use as a natural-looking lip gloss.”

Beauty Hack – Dry Hands

If you have dry hands, this at-home remedy will do the trick. Just before bed, apply treatment super balm liberally onto hands, put on a pair of thin cotton gloves (which you can find at any drugstore) and sleep with them on. Your hands will feel like new in the morning.

Beauty Hack – Chapped Lips

This is the perfect quick-fix if you, like me, tend to get dry and chapped lips as soon as the temperature outside drops. Start by applying a thin layer of treatment enzyme peel alongside your lips. Let sit for about 30 seconds and then rinse off carefully with lukewarm water. Apply a thick layer of treatment super balm. Voila! All smooth again.

Beauty Hack – Polished Cuticles

To achieve a successful manicure from the comfort of your own sofa, you first need to attend to your cuticles. Apply treatment enzyme peel onto every fingernail. Let sit for about 60 seconds (or a little more) and then wash your hands with lukewarm water. Pat your hands dry and massage a little bit of treatment super balm onto every cuticle. Let sink in and then apply your favourite shade of nail polish.

Read more and shop treatment super balm here. 

Emma about the new exclusive line Ultimate

Emma, how come you wanted to create a new series for more mature skin?
The skin really changes with age, and now that I am approaching my 50s I clearly notice that my skin has different needs from when I was in my 30s and 40s. When we started to develop our new anti-ageing series three years ago, we first wanted to understand what is really happening to our skin around 50 and up, and create a unique series that targets precisely these problems.

Why do you need to change your skincare products with age?
You age constantly, and that of course includes your skin. The level of collagen actually starts to drop when you are around 25 years old, so it’s not surprising that your skin has different needs when you hit your 50s compared to when you are younger.

The ultimate series includes a day cream, a night cream, a serum and an eye cream.

What happens to our skin as we approach our 50s?
Except the fact that we get more fine lines and wrinkles, I also notice that my skin is both thinner and more sensitive, and it doesn’t recover as quickly as it used to. Our genes and lifestyle play a big role in how our skin ages. That means your diet, exercise and sleeping habits. Besides these two factors your skin is also affected by the hormonal changes that normally occurs around 50. The skin cell renewal process is slowed down and the natural levels of collagen and moisture go down as well. It was precisely these two problems we wanted to attack with the new series.

Tell us more about the series.
Ultimate includes unique formulations with several bioactive ingredients specifically selected to help mature skin by repairing, strengthening, smoothing and boosting with moisture. An ingredient I like to talk a little bit extra about is Getania. It is extracted from an ayurvedic herb, and it blurs the appearance of vertical lines and smooths the skin by improving cell regeneration. It strengthens the skin and reduces the visibility of vertical lines. The series also includes Vitamin A-derivate, low molecular Hyaluronic acid and extract from brown algae that improves the skin tone and texture.

What is the difference between ageless and ultimate?
We recommend ageless from around 30+ and ultimate from 50+ when your skin needs even more potent products. Ultimate has a higher content of the anti-ageing Vitamin A, peptides that work against irregular pigmentation and a low molecular Hyaluronic acid that penetrates the skin and adds and binds moisture. As I mentioned before, Ultimate also contains Getania that works against the vertical lines that tends gets more visible with age. The ultimate series also has a creamier texture as a more mature skin often needs more moisture.

Tell us about the packaging and the fragrance.
Ultimate has a fresh and soothing scent with notes of Tea, Ginger, Lemon, Peach and Sandalwood. The packages are stylish and have hygienic vacuum pumps and windows, so that you easily can see how much cream is left. The lids of the day- and night creams also have different colours so that you won’t have to run and get your reading glasses every time you are looking for the right cream.

You have also done independent studies on the finished products, tell us more.
It has been very important to me to conduct independent studies on each of the four ultimate products. Therefore, we chose to conduct individual studies on all four products at the internationally renowned test institute Pro-Derm in Germany. The studies showed, among other things, a significant improvement in moisture content and skin cell renewal in the treated area compared to the untreated.

Read more and shop ultimate here.

Find the right foundation for your skin type

“If I only got to use one makeup product for the rest of my life it would be a really good foundation. A good foundation creates a smooth and healthy complexion, erase flaws and magically gives your skin a new glow. The trick is to is to find the right foundation for your skin type. And don’t forget to prime with a great day cream well-suited for your skin to create the perfect base.” 

foundation2Combined skin
Look for a foundation that is creamy without being too oily. A mineral powder can work wonders on combined skin since it evens out the skin tone without making the skin lose any of its lustre.
Ageless Day Cream SPF15 
1. Laura Mercier Mineral Foundation
2. She Umemura Light Bulb Foundation

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Oily skin
Avoid foundations with a lot of oils in it and aim for a matte powder foundation. Another tip is to always keep blotting papers in your hand bag to absorb shine from your t-zone during the day.
Moisturising Day Cream
1. Bare Minerals Matte Mineral Foundation
2. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer – Oil Free

vilken-foundation-passar-vilken-hudtyp-v23Dry skin
Use a foundation that provides both colour and rehydration, and look for a sort with some extra shimmer or glow added to it to brighten up your skin. Choose one with a light, fluid texture that is easy to apply and doesn’t build up on any dry spots or wrinkles.
Sensitive Day Cream
1. Dior Nude Air Foundation
2. Lumene Nude Perfection Glow Foundation

vilken-foundation-passar-vilken-hudtyp-v24Sensitive skin
If you have sensitive skin – look for a foundation that is fragrance free and allergy tested. A mineral powder with nourishing properties can be good option, but skip the anti-ageing ingredients since they can often irritate sensitive skin.
Sensitive Day Cream
7. Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue 
8. Idun Norrsken Pure Mineral Illuminating Foundation

Varför ska man använda serum?

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Ja varför ska man använda serum? Ett serum är ett koncentrat och brukar innehålla mindre molekyler än en vanlig kräm. Det innebär att ett serum lättare kan tränga ner i huden och jobba med hudcellerna i det undre hudlagret dermis. Serum brukar även ha en högre koncentration av funktionella ingredienser vilken gör dem effektivare än en vanlig fuktkräm.

Välj ett serum som passar din hudtyp för att vårda på djupet, ge mer fukt eller motverka ålderstecken. Du kommer att märka skillnad både direkt och längre fram.