Get Cozy with Bilberry
Winter skin care is an absolute must when your home country has average temperatures that are -4°F (-20°C). These frigid conditions may be a shock to the rest of the world, but Scandinavian people are very accustomed to these subzero levels of chill. So much so, they've learned how to adapt and use local botanicals that are as resilient as they are to the cold. Let's get familiar with one of these powerhouse ingredients: Bilberry!
What is Bilberry?
Bilberry? You mean, blueberry? Well, no. But that's not totally incorrect. The term ‘blueberry' is sometimes used to generalize a lot of wild and cultivated species of highbush and lowbush berries. Bilberry is a different species entirely, but they are part of the same family. So, let's just call them cousins.
While blueberries are very commonly found all over the world, bilberries are much rarer and don't grow as widely in every region – unless you live in Northern Europe where they grow in abundance, specifically Norway, Finland, and Denmark. Because of their wide availability in the Nordic region, bilberries have been incorporated into daily life, making its way into diet, health products, and exports to boost the economy.
I'm Blue (Da Ba Dee Da Ba Di)
The bilberry fruit is round, smooth, sweet, and dark blue. Bilberries are one of the richest natural sources of anthocyanins, which are flavonoids that give berries their red, purple and blue colors. They're so rich in these pigments that you'll end up with blue fingertips and even blue skincare formulas. Hint. Hint. Wink. Wink. Nudge. Nudge.
Bilberry in Skin Care
Many researchers have been intrigued with the bioactivity of bilberry and have studied its uses in dietary and herbal medicinal treatments. With its high concentration of anthocyanins, polyphenol-rich composition and high antioxidant activity, fortifying the skin barrier with the help of bilberry is at the top of our skin care goals. Bilberry helps keep skin protected from oxidative stress and damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) – antioxidant protection at its finest! Bilberry seed oil is rich in vitamins, including stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids. These fatty acids help keep skin deeply hydrated with their emollient and moisturizing properties.
Hygge for Your Skin
You've heard of hygge (pronounced hoo-gah), right? In case you haven't, let me fill you in on the Danish and Norwegian concept of coziness. In the fall and winter seasons, you know how we have the urge to make everything around us comfortable? – Soft, plush blankets. Throw pillows galore. Candles in every delectable fragrance. Calm, soothing sounds. All of the above? That's hygge! Creating an atmosphere of peace, togetherness and safety is one of the ways to embody a hygge lifestyle.
Inspired by this ultra-comforting mood board, we wanted to create this experience for our skin. Nuria's Revitalizing Jelly Night Treatment was developed to convey hygge in a jar. You get skin comfort, nourishment and self-care immersion in a unique jelly texture that delivers the simplicity of enjoying a skincare evening ritual. Some of our favorite reviews represent exactly what we had in mind:
- Togetherness: "Even my fiancé asked for more"
- Joy: "I look forward to putting this on every night"
- Comfort: "I love the way the jelly treatment feels on my face making it feel cool and refreshed… The next morning my face feels hydrated and soft."
And yes, you guessed it! Bilberry is the star ingredient in this special formula, which makes the jelly a fun, blue color (don't worry, it won't dye your skin blue!). With its richness in fatty acids, this natural ingredient brings even more nutrition to dry, cracked, or damaged skin. When paired with the bouquet of fruit and flower extracts in this moisturizer, the jelly treatment relaxes your skin overnight and reveals nourished, dewy skin in the morning.
Scandinavian minimalism and appreciation for nature are closer than you think! Take a trip around the world, enjoy a new global beauty ritual and powerhouse botanical without even leaving your home.
About the author, Jasmin Figueroa
Jasmin is an accomplished formulation scientist and skin health expert who has spent her career listening to consumers and developing products that rock. A founding member of the Nuria community, she loves traveling with her family, chilling with her friends at the beach, and will totally judge you if you don’t wear SPF.