The Art Of Complexion Protection

The Solution To Stressed Skin

If, like me, your skin has a habit of betraying exactly how tired or stressed you really are, La Prairie’s new Swiss Pristine skincare is a must-try. Created specifically to repair and strengthen the skin barrier, this collection – a three-step ritual – has been formulated with sensitive and stressed skin in mind. Trust me when I say it’s a godsend.

Swiss Pristine represents a whole new era for La Prairie – and it’s a timely one. Our skin has never had quite so much to contend with. From stress and lack of sleep to frequent travel, relentless schedules and pollution – not to mention the omnipresence of our screens – there is little escaping the demands of modern life. All this can show up on our skin, in what La Prairie calls “the six signs of modern fatigue”: visible pores, redness, rough texture, dullness, uneven tone and fine lines.

Some of these changes can be associated with an impaired skin barrier. Designed to keep the good – namely water and essential lipids – in, and the bad – irritants, pollutants, and other external aggressors – out, the skin barrier has become a hot topic of conversation in the skincare industry in recent years. So much so that I now make looking after mine a priority: when the barrier is functioning well, skin tends to exude health and feels more comfortable and resilient, all while looking fresher, smoother and more luminous.

Which is where the Swiss Pristine line comes in. After a hot summer that never seemed to slow down, my skin was showing the effects via rough texture and redness around my nose, chin and cheekbones – places I’d rather it wasn’t. With the promise of tackling these concerns while supporting the skin and its natural repair processes, this La Prairie launch is particularly well timed.

The three-step routine comprises an essence, serum and cream, each containing three key ingredients designed to work synergistically to help the skin better adapt to stress, while also addressing some of the damage already done. Perhaps the most interesting ingredient is a new patented active called HyPower LP52, which was developed by the brand in collaboration with HES-SO and ETH Zurich, two leading Swiss universities.

Derived through biotechnology, this ingredient helps our skin cells cope more effectively with the daily stressors it encounters, building up resilience over time. It sits alongside La Prairie’s signature Exclusive Cellular Complex and a blend of Swiss glacial minerals, including calcium, magnesium and potassium – all the good stuff! – to support healthier-looking, more resilient skin.

I love using an essence after cleansing – they’re a great, and often under-appreciated, hydrating step that prepares skin nicely for ensuing formulas. I press the Swiss Pristine Essence into the skin with my fingertips after I’ve washed my face, morning and night. It stops my skin feeling tight and irritated, and delivers the juicy, plump feel I’m always after.

The Swiss Pristine Serum is, in my opinion, the hero formula in the line. It is designed to target all six signs of modern fatigue the brand identified when formulating the products: visible pores, redness, rough texture, dullness, uneven tone and fine lines. It’s really lightweight, sinks in quickly and feels incredibly luxurious – on top of which it is clinically proven to repair and strengthen the skin, delivering up to 7x faster skin-barrier repair after 8 weeks of use.* I’ve noticed a marked difference in the way my complexion looks and feels after using it for just a few weeks.

And finally, the Swiss Pristine Cream seals everything in, while helping to bolster and repair the skin barrier. It’s nourishing without feeling too rich or heavy, which makes it the sort of moisturiser I like to use throughout the seasons.

And while it doesn’t necessarily do much for my skin barrier, the uniquely designed ice-crackled packaging – inspired by the dynamic movements that sculpt Swiss glaciers over time – is certainly aesthetically pleasing. Add the sensorial lift delivered by its fresh signature scent – a fragrance inspired by the pristine purity of those Swiss glaciers – and the whole ritual becomes a truly uplifting mind/body moment.

So while I’ve yet to find the answer to a jam-packed diary – or, indeed, the solution to feeling permanently knackered – I can at least make sure my skin doesn’t give the game away. A stronger, healthier skin barrier means a complexion that looks calmer, fresher and glowier, whatever life throws up. A few weeks in, mine certainly does – and here’s to that.

*Blue-light damage instrumental test; 8 weeks’ treatment versus untreated skin; 40 panellists.