Beauty from the wild Artic Lumene

BEAUTY FROM THE WILD ARTIC

Finland’s Lumene is taking its unique naturally-sourced beauty products into new markets.

Finnish beauty brand Lumene is planning to expand its markets beyond its traditional Nordic borders. A recent brand refresh, which emphasises Lumene’s use of natural local products and Arctic spring water while expanding its travel retail footprint, aims to increase its global appeal while maintaining its position as a market leader in Finland.

“Expanding travel retail is key to Lumene’s global growth strategy,” a company spokesperson explains. The company is also focusing on developing new e-commerce business in China and the UK, through partners such as FeelUnique, LookFantastic and Tmall

Winning formula

Lumene is based in Kauklahti, Espoo. Its skin care and cosmetics products have been developed and manufactured in Finland for more than 45 years. Today its key markets are Finland, Scandinavia, USA and Russia. The Lumene group employs 500 people globally in a variety of roles including, research and development, marketing, manufacturing, sales and finance.

The company believes that its continuing success in a highly competitive market is founded on a winning formula of Finnish expertise, innovative scientific research and product development that combines the latest technology in the field with effective ingredients sourced from the wild Arctic.

Lumene’s iconic and historically best-selling ranges, such as Lumene Nordic-C, Invisible Illumination and Foundations, have won it Beauty Awards and achieved industry accolades both in Finland and beyond.

The power of nature

Its pride in its Nordic heritage and belief in the potency of the wild Arctic ingredients it uses in its products drives all Lumene’s activities. Finland is one of the best places in the world to source those natural ingredients. It is perhaps the last unspoilt sanctuary on Earth, with organically certified forests and wetlands and some of the purest water on the planet in its 187,000 lakes and 32,000 natural springs.

Lumene uses hand-picked Nordic botanicals,that are selected not only for their ability to nourish the skin but also for their local origin and sustainable source. All its skincare formulas are 100 per cent vegan and cruelty-free. Some of its formulas are as high as 100 per cent naturally derived ingredients.

Vitamin C technology

Berries, seeds, plants, tree saps and even mushrooms have evolved in the wild in Finland over thousands of years to survive and thrive under a uniquely disruptive and challenging annual light cycle with 8 months of darkness followed by continued light. It is this that gives Arctic plants an incredible antioxidant potency.

For example, Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, and it helps neutralise free radicals on the skin that can cause skin aging. However, the usage of Vitamin C or ascorbic acid in finished cosmetic products may be impractical since ascorbic acid is very unstable. The compound degrades itself when in contact with water, light and/ or air. This means that after a certain amount of time none or very little Vitamin C is present in the cosmetic product. And some Vitamin C creams turn brownish after keeping them on a shelf for longer periods of time. Lumene has found a way to deliver the benefits of Vitamin C without these problems. In effect, Lumene skincare products do not use Vitamin C as such, but its stabilised derivatives.

The Magical Cloudberry

One of Lumene’s key sources of effective Vitamin C is the Arctic Cloudberry. Made unusually potent by the arctic light cycle, these rare tiny berries are packed with vitamins and antioxidants that in skincare products can help make skin look healthier and brighter. The Cloudberry is found in the Nordic marshes and wet meadows, growing in damp and freezing conditions. In the summer it prospers in the 24 hour sunlight, while maintaining the resilience to last out dark, perishing winters. These harmonious qualities mean the Cloudberry is supremely powerful, with a unique composition that can be harnessed to give enlightening benefits to your skin. It is one of the key ingredients in Lumene’s skin brightening VALO range.

Lumene VALO Day Cream SPF 15 is a product that you can use daily. It contains liposome encapsulated magnesium ascorbyl phosphate that slowly releases Vitamin C into the skin. Lumene’s VALO Glow Boost Essence is a water-based skin care product that contains the key derivative ascorbyl glucoside. Combined with Lumene’s patented spray dried Cloudberry powder, this hydrating

formula works to promote the appearance of more youthful-looking skin that feels smoother and more radiant.

Into the UK

In 2018 Lumene launched a range of handpicked products on to the UK market. These include its Nordic Hydra [Lähde] range and products such as the Hydration Recovery Hydrating Gel Mask and the Arctic Dew Quenching Aqua Serum. Each product contains the oxygen-rich, pH balanced, pure Arctic spring water which features in the Nordic [Valo] range. All these products are geared towards radiance and skin health, including the Glow Boost Essence and Arctic Berry Cocktail Brightening Hydra Oil. n