Lumé Deep Hydration Face Cream

Both are humectants, but Tremella fuciformis polysaccharide has a smaller molecular weight than most hyaluronic acid forms — meaning it can penetrate more deeply into the upper layers of the skin. It also holds up to 500 times its weight in water, slightly more than HA. The result is hydration that feels less surface-bound and more deeply restorative.

CoQ10 (ubiquinone) is highly susceptible to oxidation — exposure to light, air, and time degrades its activity. Encapsulation protects the molecule within a stable carrier until it is delivered to the skin, where it can perform as an antioxidant and support mitochondrial function in skin cells. Without encapsulation, much of the CoQ10 would be inactive by the time you applied it.

Yes. Lumé is formulated without synthetic fragrance, parabens, ethylhexylglycerin, or other ingredients commonly associated with reactivity. The inclusion of bisabolol (a natural anti-inflammatory from chamomile) and the absence of essential oils in irritating concentrations make it suitable for most sensitive and rosacea-prone skin types. As with any new product, we recommend a patch test for first-time use.

Yes — we recommend refrigerating Lumé to preserve the integrity and efficacy of its bioactive ingredients. Actives like encapsulated CoQ10, Tremella polysaccharide, and the unsaturated plant oils (camellia, prickly pear, squalane) are sensitive to heat, light, and oxygen. Cool storage slows oxidation, protects the biological activity of the ferment- and enzyme-derived actives, and ensures the formula performs at peak potency from first use to last. This is not a workaround — it is a deliberate design choice. Aphora formulates for efficacy life, not shelf life, and refrigeration is how we ensure Lumé reaches your skin with its full bioactive load intact.

With twice-daily use of a pearl-sized amount, a 50ml jar typically lasts 10–12 weeks. Because Lumé is formulated for efficacy at the point of use rather than extended shelf life, we recommend using it consistently within six months of opening for the best results.

Yes. Lumé pairs well with active treatments — its barrier-supporting lipids and calming bisabolol can help offset the dryness or sensitivity that retinoids and exfoliating acids sometimes cause. Apply Lumé as the final step of your evening routine, after any treatments have absorbed.

Any skincare product that contains water requires preservation — otherwise it would grow bacteria, yeast, and mould within days, which is far more dangerous than any preservative. Lumé uses a four-ingredient system that COSMOS and ECOCERT recognise as among the gentlest effective options in professional formulation. Lactobacillus / Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract is a natural ferment filtrate with antimicrobial activity, which lowers the preservative load the rest of the system needs to carry. Benzyl Alcohol occurs naturally in jasmine, hyacinth, and ylang-ylang. Dehydroacetic Acid is a nature-identical molecule (the same compound found at low levels in certain plants) recognised by ECOCERT and COSMOS as one of the gentlest broad-spectrum preservatives in cosmetic chemistry. Bisabolol is the chamomile-derived compound that also appears as a skin-soothing active in this formula — anti-inflammatory in its own right, with preservation-supporting activity. Together they sit at well under 1% of the formula. This is the same preservation approach used across the Aphora range — never the synthetic parabens, formaldehyde-releasers, or phenoxyethanol-based systems found in conventional moisturisers.