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Pro-Aging
Award-Winning
Antioxidant Skin Care Solutions

UMBRIA, MADE IN ITALY

OPRAH BEAUTY O-WARD 2022 WINNER "BEST FACE OIL"

OPRAH BEAUTY O-WARD 2022 WINNER – BEST FACE OIL

Prolong Youthful Radiance with Our Award-Winning Antioxidant Skin Care Solutions

Experience the transformative power of our Enzymatic Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Hydroxytyrosol infused formulas.

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On the press

"One of the best facial moisturizers from around the world."

"Potent formula with all sorts of replenishing goodness (including hydroxytyrosol, a particularly powerful antioxidant derived from olive trees)."

"Less is often more."

"One of the most promising independent beauty brands to watch in 2022."

"Unrivalled olive antioxidants obtained by the means of science."

"Products rich in Hydroxytyrosol, one of the most powerful antioxidant boosters."

"A soothing, moisturizing oil that leaves skin glowing—not slick."

"The hottest news in sunscreens."

"Plant-based, lightweight, non-greasy facial oil, and a gentle, ultra-hydrating lotion."

“MY DAILY MOISTURIZING SERUM” Ernesto Umbria, Italy

Fights dryness while Pro-aging, in 1 easy step, with Antioxidant Cream.

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“MY DAILY MOISTURIZING SERUM”
Ernesto Umbria, Italy

Fights dryness while
Pro-aging, in 1 easy step,
with Antioxidant Cream.

Shop now

Join the community of professors, students, educators, artists, gardeners, caretakers, and everyone in between.

Pamper Your Skin with Gentle, Effective, and Science-Backed Skin Care Solutions

Soothe sensitive skin, avoid irritation, and age beautifully.

Hydration for
dry, norm, and
comb skin

Hydrator 1

Hydration
specifically for
oily & comb skin

Hydrator 2

Hydration to
restore skin
vibrancy

Hydrator 3

Facial oil
to seal in
hydration

Antioxidant Boost

Benefits

Preserve

Skin care is preservation, like a healthy eating pattern and exercise. Our mission is to blur the unnecessary border between health and beauty.

Defend

Our formulations are damage defenders that help the skin stay and act healthy for longer.

Balance

We believe that by removing stressors and using fewer, but efficacious ingredients, we can return to skin balance – the root of good skin health.

Support

Our products support your skin’s barrier using gentle ingredients formulated at a suitable pH.

Simplify

Often our skin problems stem from overtreatment or misuse. We believe in products with correct and effective ingredients and consistent gestures.

Nourish

Our technologically advanced face oils are converted with Enzymes, enabling the product to nourish the skin and support the skin barrier.

Our Hero Antioxidant, Hydroxytyrosol

COMPARE WITH VIT C

Hydroxytyrosol

(HT)

Vitamin C

( L-Ascorbic acid )

Stable2

Unstable

Survives
in highly oxidizing environments2

Easily oxidized

pH 5-5.5
formulated at the ideal skin pH level

Acidic pH level
to slow down oxidation

Interacts well
with other Actives

Irritating
Can be irritating with retinol and chemical exfoliants

Recharges vit C1

n/a

1 E. Lopez-Huertas, J. Fonolla, Hydroxytyrosol supplementation increases vitamin C levels in vivo. A human volunteer trial, Redox Biol 11, 384-389, 2017

2 Avola R et al. Hydroxytyrosol from olive fruits prevents blue-light-induced damage in human keratinocytes and fibroblasts J Cell Physiol, 2019

Semi-Slugging.

To semi-slug, apply 2-8 drops of Antioxidant Boost Facial Oil as the last step in your night routine to seal-in actives, hydration, and nutrients. So easy and so clean – none of the usual next morning linen mess and clogged pores of traditional slugging.

Let the Hydroxytyrosol olive antioxidants and free fatty acids restore your skin while you sleep and wake to glowing skin!

Also great for nail semi-Slugging.

Explore

Antioxidant
Cream

The new star of antioxidant potency

Antioxidant
Boost

The world's only Enzymatic Italian extra virgin olive oil

Hydrator 2

Hydration specifically for oily & comb skin

UVA UVB
SPF30

100% mineral filter sunscreen with the impossibly light texture

FAQs

According to EU regulations:

– Cosmetics have the main purpose of cleaning, perfuming, changing the appearance, protecting, keeping in good condition or correcting body odors.
– Medicinal Products and Non-Prescription Medicines (called OTC – Over-the-Counter in US) are used to treat or prevent disease, and correct or modify physiological functions by exerting a pharmacological, immunological or metabolic action.

There may be differences between countries on the definitions and purposes of cosmetics and drugs: some products (e.g. sunscreens, antiperspirants) are classified as cosmetics in EU, but are classified as OTC products in USA.

Cosmetic products can help with cleansing, protecting, and maintaining the skin in the best possible condition. You can take care of your skin using appropriate cosmetics for your skin type.

Dermatologists can treat medical (e.g. acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea) and aesthetic conditions (e.g. medical fillers, laser resurfacing).

Our skin is composed of layers, from outside to inside:

– An outermost thin layer (epidermis) protects from outside aggressors and maintains hydration of internal tissues. It is constantly renewing and regenerating (it is on average a 28 day cycle, cycle time progressively increases with age).

– Below the epidermis lies a thick layer (dermis) containing many structural elements (e.g. fibroblasts, collagen, elastin, etc.) that gives our skin strength and elasticity.

– Finally, below the dermis lies the deepest layer (hypodermis) made of tissue, fat, and blood vessels. It provides structural support for the skin, protects the muscles beneath and supports thermoregulation.

Skin is an active organ. Its most important function is to form a barrier between the human organism and the external environment. This function is crucial for terrestrial life.

Skin has a network of different barriers:

  • Microbiome barrier: natural skin flora controls potentially harmful bacteria
  • Physical barrier: consists mainly of Stratum Corneum (SC), the outermost layer of epidermis. It is formed by a continuous sheet of cells (corneocytes) embedded in a lipid matrix (cholesterol, ceramides, free fatty acids) and assembled into a “brick and mortar” model
  • Chemical barrier: includes factors that contribute to the acidic skin pH and compounds forming the ‘natural moisturizing factor’ (NMF), for example, free amino acids, PCA, sodium lactate, urea, etc.
  • Immune barrier: composed of several types of cells, determining the immune response, a defense against sensitizers and pathogens. Cosmetics cannot boost, cure, or treat the immune system of the skin. If you have allergic reactions, please see visit a dermatologist.

Skin barrier’s main functions:

  • Prevents excessive water loss, maintaining and balancing the water content
  • Protects from external aggressors (e.g. UV, chemicals, microorganisms, mechanical forces)
  • Acts as thermoregulator (e.g. via sweat) and sensory transmission (e.g. pain, touch)

The skin barrier can be damaged by cutaneous irritants (allergens, pollutants, harsh products or bad skincare habits e.g. over-exfoliating or unprotected UV exposure), environmental conditions (e.g. temperature, humidity, wind), aging/hormonal changes, stress and genetics (e.g. psoriasis, atopic dermatitis).

An impaired skin barrier is characterized by tightness, itchiness, inflammation, dry or flaky aspect, inflamed/sensitive areas, adverse reaction to commonly used products, changes in texture (e.g. thin, rough skin).

Physiological skin pH varies in the range 4.5-5.9 (slightly acidic) and it can be affected by:

  • Intrinsic factors, for example, age (elderly have higher pH), sebum, moisturization, genetic predisposition, anatomic site (occluded areas such as armpit have higher pH), ethnicity (dark-pigmented skin has lower pH)
  • Extrinsic factors, for example, environmental stressors (UV chronic exposure, pollution), harsh cleansers, season, over cleansing/over exfoliating, skin irritants

Skin acid mantle is important for a healthy skin:

  • Barrier formation and integrity (e.g. synthesis (ideal pH 4.5-5.6)) and degradation (pH 7.0-9.0) of ceramides are pH-dependent processes
  • Desquamation (an increase in pH causes accelerated degradation)
  • Maintenance of microbiome (natural skin flora), e.g. physiological pH (pH 4.5-5.9) is beneficial for resident flora and limits colonization by pathogenic microorganisms
  • Buffering capacity: skin has a self-balancing system able to restore normal pH when skin is exposed to acid/alkaline aggression. It may be impaired by repeated use of extreme pH products.

Acid mantle’s disruption may lead to increase sensitivity that can cause irritation, dryness, flakiness, tight sensation.

During aging the skin is subjected to structural changes:

Epidermis:

  • Epidermal turnover rate decreases, resulting in a thinner skin more likely to wrinkle
  • Sebum production, water content, and lipid content (in particular ceramides and triglycerides) all significantly reduce, making the skin dry and itchy
  • Number of active melanocytes decreases resulting in uneven pigmentation (e.g. age spots in sun-exposed areas on the face)

Dermis:

  • The junction between epidermis and dermis flattens causing skin fragility, less mechanical resistance and diminished elasticity (e.g. loosening skin), contributing to wrinkle formation
  • The lower production of dermal collagen, hyaluronic acid, and elastin causes skin thickness and sagging. The decrease in subcutaneous fat, results in increased vulnerability to mechanical trauma (e.g. less capacity to recovery from deformation)

The rate of the intrinsic (chronological) aging is a natural process genetically determined and is influenced by the degenerative effects of free radicals and the decreased ability to repair the damage. Extrinsic aging is a non-genetic accelerated process due to environmental stressors (e.g. UV, pollution, smoking), able to amplify natural aging resulting in prematurely aged skin.

 

Everyone has a skin type, but not everyone has a skin condition. Skin type (e.g. oily, combination, dry, normal) is mostly predetermined by genetics and it can evolve with age, can be managed by a proper daily skincare routine (e.g. choosing a rich or light moisturizer depending on your skin type)

Skin condition (e.g. acne, hyper/hypo pigmentation, dehydration, sensitive, aging) is:

  • A specific concern that can be occasionally experienced over lifetime and it can be influenced by internal (e.g. hormones, stress level, aging) or external factors (e.g. skincare routine, weather, environment, lifestyle). It can affect all skin type and can be treated with specifically addressed products.
  • We do not treat skin disease, serious medical conditions, or conditions requiring dermatological observation.

Identifying your skin type is important for you to know how to treat it.

  • Oily skin exhibits an over-production of sebum (skin oil composed of triglycerides, squalene, wax esters) and is more likely to have clogged pores. This skin type needs to balance the oil production without over cleansing, while maintaining well-hydrated skin.
  • Dry skin lacks natural sebum and may feel tight and itchy. Dry skin needs to restore the lipid layer (ceramides, cholesterol, fatty acids) to prevent loss of water from inside the skin and sealing moisture in using rich moisturizers and hydrators.
  • Combination skin usually experiences an oily T-zone, while the outer areas (U-zone) are normal or dry. A balance in skin’s water/oil ratio is needed.
  • Normal skin has optimal water and oil concentrations, it is important to maintain this well-balanced status.

Wash your face with a mild cleanser or just water. Gently pat dry with a towel and wait 1 h without applying anything on your face. Notice how your skin looks and how you feel it (e.g. smiling).

  • Dry skin: tight sensation, skin looks dull, feels brittle and rough
  • Oily skin: refreshed sensation immediately after washing, shiny look after 1 hr
  • Combination skin: feeling of residue on the T zone, while the outside areas feel tight
  • Normal skin: no greasy or dry feeling

There is no such thing as a perfect skin in real life (blemishes, dark spots, breakouts are normal). The main purpose is to have a healthy skin, that is, maintaining the skin barrier and prevent chronic skin conditions. Consistency is the key and changes need time. Keep it simple, so that you can do it every day.

  1. Cleanser: the function of a cleanser is to remove dirt, residue, and sebum, so the rest of your routine can work at its best. Depending on your skin type you can choose just water (even if water’s ability to remove oil is limited), a gentle cleanser, or double cleansing to remove makeup or sunscreen.
  2. Moisturizer: a moisturizing product contains humectants, emollients, and occlusive substances that help restore/maintain the optimal status of the skin barrier.
  3. Photoprotection in the morning: chronic exposure to Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is responsible for photoaging and skin damage. It is important to wear a SPF 30 minimum broad-spectrum protection.

INCI is the International Nomenclature for Cosmetic Ingredients, a globally accepted standard used to identify cosmetic ingredients on the label. The majority of the terms contained in this code is in English, while we find in Latin those referring to botanical names (e.g. Olea europaea (Olive) fruit oil. INCI lists simplify the identification of substances to which you may be allergic.

According to EU and US regulations the list must be provided in descending order of weight of the ingredients. Ingredients in concentrations of less than 1 % may be listed in any order after those in concentrations of more than 1 %.

Each ingredient has a purpose:

Key ingredients, also known as actives (e.g. ceramides, salicylic acid, retinol, hyaluronic acid, etc.)

  • Deliver a skincare benefit to the consumer for a specific skin condition
  • They are used at recommended concentrations to be effective, supported by scientific or laboratory studies
  • Often called “actives” even if this term is related to drugs and OTC

Functional ingredients (e.g. emollients, thickening agents, emulsifiers, preservatives, etc.)

  • Help to achieve the performance and claimed cosmetic benefits (e.g. a poorly spreadable product is worthless even if very potent because you are not able to use it)
  • Provide the product form (e.g. lotion, cream, fluid) and determine the texture (e.g. light-weight or heavier)
  • Shape the pleasantness and the sensorial evaluation of the product (e.g. appearance, pick-up, rub-out, after-feel)

Less ingredients mean:

  • Our chemists can focus on key ingredients. Each ingredient, to be effective, should be used at suggested concentrations. To reduce the likely of adverse effects, there is a limit to the number of the effective active ingredients you can have in a formula. Less ingredients make it easier to identify instability due to incompatible ingredients.
  • Consumers can more easily search for information on substances they are interested in, for a more conscious use of the product.

JOURNAL

Beauty Thinkers’ Innovative Skincare: Interview with Our Lead Product Scientist 
When he’s not attending Cosmoprof (a global event for beauty and skincare manufacturers) or working on the latest skincare research with the University of Ferrara—one of the pioneers in Italian cosmetic science—Riccardo Barbieri (pictured above in our olive grove in Umbria) can be found in his lab, perfecting the latest product formulas using natural ingredients […]
Read more

The Art of Healthy Aging: What Is Pro-Aging Skincare?
We tend to resist change. Whether it’s the first sign of wrinkles or the gradual loss of skin elasticity, aging triggers in us an urge to resist the natural process. Social standards and media promote the idea that youthful skin is something to fight for—at any cost. But in reality, no cream or serum can […]
Read more

Made in Italy: Timeless Skincare Traditions Reimagined by Beauty Thinkers
Whether it’s fashion, cuisine, or skincare, “Made in Italy” has become synonymous with high-quality ingredients and artisanal production. Modern Italian skincare blends age-old beauty rituals passed down through generations with scientifically proven formulations. The Italian skincare philosophy—focused on moderation, gentleness, and effectiveness—prioritizes natural ingredients and time-honored traditions. In this article, we explore what makes Italian […]
Read more


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