Our Skin

Skin + The Elements

As people on the move, our passions take us from early morning swims to mid-day runs in the sun and long bike rides fighting against wind and pollution. We do it all because we love it — but an active person’s skin is exposed to a wide range of environmental stressors like sun damage, cold, wind, pollution and chemicals which damages the skin barrier and causes inflammed skin. At Lontreau, we use the latest science and research to create unique formulations designed specifically to help protect and restore an active person’s skin barrier.

The skin barrier is your first line of defense. It’s responsible for defending against all the environmental stressors our skin endures, including pollution, UV light, blue light and infection. When our skin barrier is damaged, it can lead to several common skin issues like hyperpigmentation, sensitivity, premature aging, dryness and breakouts.

Instead of addressing these separate concerns with individual products, the best solution is to find products like Recovery Hero, an overnight restorative treatment that focuses on healing, balancing and repairing the skin barrier. An overconsumption of skincare products not only compromises and damages the skin barrier but also results in excessive packaging waste. That’s why we create ingredient-dense formulas that address the root cause, use 100% recyclable packaging, and participate in the Plastic Negative program to reduce waste and eliminate junk miles.

Fig. A The skin barrier is the first line of defense for your skin. It’s responsible for defending against all the environmental stressors

For many years, sun-induced aging was strictly attributed to ultraviolet rays (UV), but infrared (IR) rays and the heat they generate also contribute to the loss of skin firmness and elasticity, and lead to the appearance of premature wrinkles.

Think of all those long days on road bikes with your face battling the heat from the sun and hot cement. Our Core 4 kit is a curated set of skin health solutions strategically formulated to provide global management of infrared and heat-induced aging in addition to boosting the efficacy of your sunscreen with UV protection boosters. Our thoughtful selection of science-based ingredients, such as Knotgrass Extract found in our Game Changer Global Antioxidant Serum provides a breakthrough in treating photoaging and infrared & heat-induced skin damage.

Fig. B Infrared rays (IR) also contribute to the loss of skin firmness and elasticity

Particulate matter and urban dust are a real concern for an everyday mover. When we ride our bikes or run outside, this pollution comes into direct contact with our skin. Aside from leaving the surface of your skin feeling dirty, some chemicals attached to pollution particles can penetrate through the skin’s layers and cause oxidative stress, which can weaken the skin’s barrier, trigger inflammation and lead to collagen degeneration.

As if exposure to pollution and UV rays wasn’t bad enough, our skin has another enemy: high-energy visible (HEV) light. Also referred to as blue light, HEV light is primarily from the sun, but is also emitted by your smartphone, tablet and computer screen. Blue light exposure causes skin pigmentation, which is sometimes more pronounced hyperpigmentation than even UVB irradiation. Research has shown how destructive HEV light is for your skin because, like pollution particles, it can induce oxidative stress. To defend against blue light and pollution, we develop formulations that strengthen the skin’s recovery response and provide a second source of defense such as our Game Changer Global Antioxidant Serum.

Fig. C Blue light (HEV) can induce oxidative stress similar to how UV rays and Infrared harm the skin

Free radicals are unstable molecules that have either gained or lost an electron due to the action of external factors (UV, radiation, pollutants, etc.), and are an inevitable factor in the tissular aging process.

Daily environmental stressors when we ride, train and compete induce an excessive production of free radicals, which can overwhelm cellular antioxidant defenses, cause cellular stress and lead to the breakdown of skin matrix components like collagen and hyaluronic acid. Antioxidants are very generous and can give up an electron without becoming unstable - a perfect antidote to free radicals. At Lontreau, we go the extra mile with our formulations, using a variety of clinically proven antioxidants to improve the skin’s antioxidant defenses.

Fig. D Antioxidants are very generous and can give up an electron without becoming unstable

Although Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL) is a naturally occurring physiological process, there are certain things that can exacerbate it. Any sort of trauma to the skin, such as a sunburn or a case of eczema, can negatively impact TEWL levels in the body. Elements such as metabolism and sweat gland function can also play a role. External factors like drying skin care products and low-humidity climates can raise TEWL levels, creating dryness and even dehydration. Dehydration is the result of the rate of water loss in the skin outpacing its ability to replace it, and unlike dryness, requires more stringent levels of treatment - both internally and topically.

When dehydrated, the skin can feel uncomfortably tight. Dehydration can also lead to premature aging through the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and dullness. The Lontreau approach ensures we use ingredients that hydrate by improving the skin barrier and drawing water deep into the skin. To combat high levels of TEWL and an imbalanced barrier, we use hydrating ingredients that seal the moisture in. Rather than using heavy oils, waxes and butters, our combination of lightweight nourishing moisturizers and hydrating molecules found in our Endurance Hydration Protective Hydrator gives us a unique approach to skin health and hydration.

Fig. E Combat high levels of TEWL with hydrating ingredients that seal the moisture in

Each of us have a unique microbiota composition that writes the code for our skin’s immunity and barrier function. As is true with gut health, microbiota biodiversity is essential to skin health as well. A balanced microbiota is dependent on factors like genetics, lifestyle and diet. As athletes, we pressure our skin in intense conditions caused by temperature fluctuations, pH imbalances from chemicals and pollution and UV exposure.

To create balance and ensure a healthy environment for beneficial resident microorganisms, the skin requires natural healers like hydration, nutrients, pH and antimicrobial peptides. An imbalance in the microbiota is called skin dysbiosis, which leads to an onslaught of common skin health concerns like dullness, dryness, acne, inflammation and premature aging. Our formulations in the Core 4 Kit help balance the microbiota to deliver hydration and radiance, along with preserving and reinforcing the skin’s barrier.

Fig. F A balanced Skin microbiota requires natural healers like hydration, nutrients, pH and antimicrobial peptides

Informed by Science

Designed to Move

Everyday movers expect a lot from their bodies - but what about their skin? From the chlorine of a pool to the pollution from road cycling to the damage of the sun or the extreme cold of skiing, our skin barrier is constantly up against the elements. That’s why we create ingredient-rich formulations that are designed specifically for an active person’s skin. We thoughtfully select our ingredients to create efficacious formulas that work as hard as you do.

Learn More About Our Ingredients

The Needs of an Athlete

  • Synergistic

    We create synergistic formulas made with endurance ingredients because simplifying your skincare routine is better for repairing your damaged skin barrier, and the planet.

  • Innovative

    Our skincare products are rooted in science. We carefully select research-backed ingredients to design high-performing preventative skincare formulations that can stand up to extreme environments and lifestyles.

  • Preventive

    An everyday mover’s skin faces a range of environmental stressors on a daily basis, from pollution, heat, cold, wind, sun, chlorine to sweat, that’s why we use clinically proven ingredients to support skin health.

  • Biomimetic

    Our products integrate nature and science with ingredients that mimic skin structures and biochemicals which enable optimal delivery and results.

  • Simple

    Our philosophy extends to both our packaging and our product line: no complex routines requiring a specific order of products, no fragile or heavy packaging, just what is necessary.

  • Efficacious

    We carefuly choose science backed ingredients and use them in efficacious doses to get the maximum effect. You don't have time for junk miles in your training program or in your skin care routine.

  • Protective

    As people on the move, our skin is exposed to a variety of conditions and aggressors, such as wind, sun damage, hot, cold, chlorine. At the core of our product line are ingredients that heal and protect the skin barrier to heal and restore inflammed skin.

  • Sensitivity Free

    We don't use any harsh ingredients that cause sun sensitivity or skin discomfort. Your face will not sting when you use our products, even when wind burned or dehydrated