The 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 likeRecovery Hero, an overnight restorative treatment that focuses on healing, balancing and repairing the skin barrier. An over consumption 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.
UV, Infrared and Heat Induced Damage
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 4kit 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.
Pollution and Bluelight (HEV) Damage
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.
Oxidative Stress & Free Radicals
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.
TEWL, Dehydration & NMF
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.
Microbiota & Skin Dysbiosis
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.
