Combination skin care products are a new addition to Orientan's lineup. Where did the idea for them come from? Why did Tremella become the base ingredient? If you're curious about the development of this line, I invite you to take a behind-the-scenes look.
“Give us cosmetics for combination skin!”
A few years ago, I met up with some friends for coffee. As usual, the conversation quickly turned to cosmetics. I always treat such meetings as an invaluable source of feedback. My friends are brutally honest, and I know I can rely on their opinions.
This time, almost all of them had one problem in common: combination skin, which began to behave more and more unpredictably with age.
“I can’t find anything that’s truly moisturizing but doesn’t clog pores.”
“Dry here, oily there, and in the evening taut again like parchment.”
"My forehead is shiny, and I have dry patches around my nose. Nothing works on it for more than two hours."
At one point it was said directly:
“Why don’t you do something to properly moisturize and soothe combination skin?”
And so I stayed with this question in my head.
Searching for the ingredient that will make a difference
At Orientana, we had a cream for combination skin, but we lacked a complete, cohesive line. I'd long felt we could create something even better. I knew one thing: if we were to develop a new line, it had to be based on an ingredient more effective than traditional hyaluronic acid.
So I started with research and reached back to my notes from courses in Asia.
The Taiwanese Note That Changed Everything
While looking through old notebooks, I came across a note from Taiwan, where I was making sheet masks. I also took a course in natural medicine there.
During one of our lessons, we drank a delicate, slightly sweet infusion from an almost transparent mushroom resembling a snow cloud. The teacher called it the beauty mushroom . It was said to be like rain on dry land.
It was Tremella fuciformis .
Tremella - a magical moisturizing ingredient
Tremella is an edible mushroom that can retain enormous amounts of water. When soaked, it increases in volume several times, taking on a gelatinous, elastic consistency.
I immediately thought:
This could be the perfect hero ingredient for combination skin cosmetics, one that:
- intensively hydrates,
- does not clog pores,
- does not leave a greasy film,
- works on both dry and oily areas.
I'm testing science, not just tradition
While I greatly value traditional Asian medicine, at Orientana we always go a step further. Every ingredient must have scientifically proven efficacy.
Studies on Tremella fuciformis have shown that its polysaccharides:
- have a very high water-binding capacity,
- create a stable moisturizing film on the skin,
- protect fibroblasts against oxidative stress,
- support the skin barrier,
- show anti-aging and regenerative potential.
What's more, Tremella contains ergosterol, an antioxidant compound that can convert to vitamin D₂ upon exposure to UVB, supporting skin function.
For me it was clear: this was a bull's eye .
How were cosmetic formulas for combination skin created?
Tremella was the base, but I knew we also needed the following ingredients:
- regulating sebum,
- reducing the visibility of pores,
- soothing imperfections.
This is how the recipes were created:
Sebum regulating cream
Tremella, niacinamide, Pore Out™, squalane, jojoba oil, argan oil, butterfly pea
Hydrating Serum Elixir
Tremella, exosomes, lactic acid, aloe
Mask that soothes imperfections
Tremella, tamanu oil, azelaic acid, glutathione, squalane
Nourishing eye cream
Tremella, ceramides, avocado oil
Tests, fixes and… half a year of fine-tuning
I invited my colleagues to test it – the same ones who reported the problem. Almost the entire office tested it too. We were ruthless.
We improved the formulas for over half a year.
The result? Products that moisturize without clogging. Calm without weighing down. Exactly what we set out to create.
Tremella - not only in cosmetics, but also in the world of wellness
In the West, Tremella has gained immense popularity as an ingredient in "beauty from within" supplements. American researchers and manufacturers now consider it one of the top superfoods of the 21st century, alongside reishi and lion's mane.
This only confirmed my belief that I had chosen the right direction.
Questions
Why was the Tremella Orientana series created?
To create intensely moisturizing cosmetics that do not clog pores for combination skin.
Why is Tremella the base ingredient of the series?
Because it effectively binds water and is very well tolerated by the skin.
Is the Tremella series suitable for sensitive skin?
Yes, it has been developed with good tolerability in mind.
Are Tremella cosmetics suitable for everyday use?
Yes, morning and evening.
Does the Tremella series regulate sebum?
Yes, thanks to the combination of Tremella with niacinamide and seboregulating ingredients.
Can Tremella replace hyaluronic acid?
In many cases, yes.
Is the Tremella series suitable after the age of 40?
Yes, especially for combination skin with a tendency to dehydration.
In conclusion
This is how the Hydro Tremella Orientana series was born – from conversations, the needs of real women, Asian inspiration, and solid scientific research.
I hope it will work for you too.
Read also:
How does tremella work on combination and oily skin.
Why Tremella is called the plant equivalent of hyaluronic acid
Anna Wasilewska
creator and owner of the Orientana brand
Some of the research I used:
- The potential cutaneous benefits of Tremella fuciformis, Archives of Dermatological Research 2023,
- Tremella fuciformis polysaccharide suppresses hydrogen peroxide-triggered injury of human skin fibroblasts via upregulation of SIRT1, Molecular Medicine Reports, 2017
- Tremella fuciformis polysaccharides alleviates induced atopic dermatitis in mice by regulating immune response and gut microbiota, Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2022
- Tremella fuciformis Inhibits Melanogenesis in B16F10 Cells and Promotes Wound Healing in Human Keratinocytes and Fibroblasts, In Vivo, 2022
- Study on the structure characterization and moisturizing effect of Tremella fuciformis polysaccharide, Food, science and human wellness, 2021
