photos/post: Kristin Ess

A couple of weeks ago I took off on a beauty field trip to Olso + Bergen, Norway. I was asked to join the trip by the founder of Restørsea, Patti Pao. I had been hearing all about Restørsea Day Cream in the beauty and skin care world and I must admit, I wanted to know what all the fuss was about. The more I got to know Patti, the more I knew we were all in for something really special on this trip. Patti has an incredible history in the industry and has launched more than 400 beauty products for major brands. She knows a thing or two about the market and literally radiates ideas and innovation. Bonus: she spends tons of time in Norway and we got to have her there with us to show us around.

We spent a little time in Oslo before flying to Bergen. Both are so rich in their history, but very different. Oslo is a wonderful, ultra-clean city, with a fast-paced night life and Bergen is all nature. I would even describe Bergen as feeling “pure” with mountains and rivers that appear untouched. Nearly all of my photos above taken in Bergen and you can see just how picture-esque it really is. Bergen was the place we wanted to be on this adventure because that’s where the salmon hatchery is, and that’s where the main ingredient in Restørsea comes from.

Restørsea is made with an enzyme that is produced during the salmon hatching process. Worry not– it’s extracted without harming the fish as they’re born. The whole salmon egg thing sounded interesting when I first heard about it, but with an open mind I started to think about how natural that seems compared to other things we tend to put on our face and neck. Patti discovered this enzyme when she went on a tour of the hatchery. She noticed that the workers hands looked much younger than their faces. We got to take a tour of that same hatchery and were then invited to sit down and talk to the scientists that Patti worked with to create Restørsea. I don’t remember the last time a brand invited us in to talk to their scientists and see where the main ingredients come from. IT. WAS. FASCINATING.

I learned that Restørsea works by dissolving everything that sits on top of the “new skin” like pollution and dead skin cells. Best thing is, this is great everyone, no matter your age. It’s not just about wrinkles or dry skin or oil. It’s about clearing away anything that sits on top to reveal the new skin. Best part about Restørsea is that it stops when it gets to your new skin. That was actually what caught my attention. I’m used to using certain AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) to clear away the dry skin and debris, which don’t always stop at the new skin. You have to neutralize most AHAs when they get through the topical stuff. That means you have to know right when to shut it off. With Restørsea you don’t have to worry about that. You apply it in the morning and in the evening and that’s it. Pretty amazing.

I love hearing about new things in beauty and I LOVE when brands try new things and don’t just re-formulate something just because that’s the way it’s always been done. If you want more info on Restørsea and the science behind it, check out their site. Just for the record, I’m not being paid to say any of this, I’m just really excited about seeing something new brought to the skin care market and I’m overly excited about how my skin looks and feels since I’ve been using it.

Stay tuned for our tutorial on how to properly moisturize your face!