The Biossance Sunshine Set Is Reese Witherspoon's Spring Skin-Care Secret

THIS ARTICLE APPEARED IN ALLURE | APRIL 22, 2022 | BY LAUREN CARUSO

Introducing The Sunshine Set, a three-part skin-care collection that focuses on brightening, hydrating, protecting, and ushering any skin type into the warm summer days with ease.

We all know that Reese Witherspoon is practically sunshine in a bottle — and while we don't know the secret to her sunny demeanor, we do know how she gets her complexion to match: As part of her partnership with clean beauty leader Biossance, the actor hand-curated the brand's new Sunshine Set. The three-piece skin-care system is packed with effective, feel-good ingredients like squalane, vitamin C, zinc oxide, and ceramides that hydrate, protect, and brighten for an overall healthy, radiant glow. (That's no easy feat when you're transitioning dull, tired skin out of the winter months.)

Included in the set is the Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil, a lightweight, serum-like oil that Reese fell in love with for the way it sinks right in; the Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen with broad-spectrum SPF 30 to protect and calm skin without the chalky white cast; and the Squalane + Rose Vegan Lip Balm, which boasts an ultra-hydrating trio of ingredients to instantly plump lips. The entire set is great for all skin types, but especially those who struggle through the winter-to-spring transition.

If you haven’t thought about updating your skin-care routine to match the weather yet, experts agree: there’s no time like the present. "The skin can lose balance as the seasons change, especially in the transitional weeks when the temperature and humidity can vary tremendously," says Elyse Love, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. "Dry patches are a common problem that I see as the weather changes and the skin struggles to maintain normalcy."

The fix? A new skin-care ritual that centers around hydration and protection — but without anything too heavy. Stefanie DiLibero, an aesthetician, acupuncturist, and the founder of Gotham Wellness in New York City, says her clients often experience new bouts of acne or irritation around this time of the year, "often because the products that helped their skin during the dry winter months become too heavy and occlusive to use during the warmer, more humid months."

The Sunshine Set was specifically curated to circumvent that with its hero ingredient, Biossance's signature plant-based squalane, which works in tandem with other go-to elements to deliver optimal hydration and protection. It's a popular ingredient for the way it mimics our skin's natural ability to self-lubricate, Dr. Love adds.

"Squalene [with an e] is a natural oil produced by many plants and animals — including humans — to provide moisture to the skin barrier," says Dr. Love. "Like most things, production of squalene decreases starting in the 20s, which is one of the reasons skin becomes less oily and more dry into adulthood. Through a process called hydrogenation, squalene is converted to squalane, a stable emollient and antioxidant that helps to maintain skin hydration."

No wonder Witherspoon always looks like she just walked out of the world’s most glowing, radiant facial every day. Even more, squalane's silky, lightweight texture is unlike anything else. And just a few drops of the oil is enough to reap the benefits: Not only does it sink in instantly, but it layers well under makeup. Plus, its subtle rose scent is calming — never overpowering.

According to Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, when squalane is combined with skin-brightening vitamin C — like in the Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil — it can help minimize potential irritation while boosting its antioxidant effects. "Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that neutralizes free-radical damage and blocks production of abnormal pigmentation," he says, adding that it helps protect skin from environmental aggressors while evening skin tone. "While effective, vitamin C is potentially irritating, so pairing it with squalane can help minimize potential irritation and keep the skin hydrated."

The same goes for squalane's interaction with hyaluronic acid and ceramides, both top ingredients in Biossance's Vegan Lip Balm. While the former pulls moisture into the skin to instantly moisturize and plump, "ceramides act like spackle to fill in cracks in the outer skin layer and repair the skin barrier," says Dr. Zeichner. The combination results in a balm that's hydrating, but never sticky or tacky.

But none of this matters if you’re skipping the most important step of them all: sunscreen, which experts agree is the most vital part of any skin-care routine. "If you aren't using sunscreen daily, you're missing out on one of the best ways to protect your skin from cancer and premature aging," says DiLibero, who adds that the best sunscreen is the one you'll actually use ritualistically. And Dr. Love agrees: "Daily sun protection is essential to skin health as UV radiation damages the skin barrier and underlying structures," she says, adding that it can lead to fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, redness, and an irritated skin barrier.

That means it should sink in quickly (check), leave your skin hydrated instead of chalky (check), and contain zinc oxide for mineral protection, the gold standard for physical sun protection (check and check). In fact, the combination of squalane and glycerin in the Sheer Mineral SPF 30 Sunscreen means it goes on more like a moisturizer than sun protection.

So while we can't guarantee everything in your life will go this smoothly, we can strongly recommend Witherspoon's hand-curated Biossance Sunshine Set to seamlessly prep your skin for warmer weather.