Key Ingredients in SOLSTICE Ceramide Barrier Balm Serum
Snow Mushroom (Tremella Fuciformis) Extract
Ceramide Complex
Bisabolol
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you protect your skin in extreme cold weather?
Skin in extreme cold needs two things simultaneously: deep hydration and a physical barrier against wind and moisture loss. The most effective approach is layering — a hydrating serum like Equinox first to deliver humectants, then a barrier balm like Solstice on top to seal everything in and protect against windchill. Avoid hot showers which strip the barrier further, and apply your final barrier layer while skin is still slightly damp to lock in moisture before heading outside.
What's the difference between a moisturizer and a barrier balm?
A moisturizer primarily delivers water or humectants to the skin's surface. A barrier balm goes further — it replenishes the structural lipids that hold skin cells together and prevent moisture from escaping in the first place. Think of it as the difference between filling a leaky bucket and fixing the hole. Solstice is formulated as a balm-serum hybrid, meaning it combines treatment-level actives like ceramides and mushroom extracts with the occlusive protection of a balm — making it more than a moisturizer but lighter than a traditional heavy balm.
What is snow mushroom and what does it do for skin?
Snow mushroom, or Tremella fuciformis, is a fungal extract that holds up to 500 times its weight in water — outperforming hyaluronic acid in some studies. Its particles are smaller than hyaluronic acid, allowing deeper penetration and longer-lasting hydration. Used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, it also provides photo-protective and barrier-strengthening benefits. Solstice uses Tremella alongside shiitake mushroom extract, which contributes B vitamins that soothe and protect stressed skin.
What does a skin barrier balm do?
A barrier balm reinforces your skin's outermost protective layer — the acid mantle — by replenishing the lipids and ceramides it loses to environmental stress, over-cleansing, and aging. Unlike a regular moisturizer that adds hydration to the surface, a barrier balm works structurally, filling the gaps between skin cells to reduce water loss and block irritants. Solstice combines ceramides, snow mushroom, and a blend of plant butters to do both simultaneously — hydrating and sealing in one step.
Why does skin get so dry in winter?
Cold air holds less moisture than warm air, so every breath of winter wind pulls hydration from your skin. Indoor heating compounds the problem by creating artificially dry air that accelerates trans-epidermal water loss. For those in genuinely cold climates — think -20°C or lower — this cycle strips the skin barrier faster than most moisturizers can replace it. Solstice was formulated specifically for this condition, using ceramides and snow mushroom extract to reinforce the barrier against extreme cold and wind rather than just sitting on top of it.
As Seen In
