The sun can be our best friend, providing our bodies with many essential vitamins; but, it can also be our worst enemy causing painful burns, life-threatening sun damage, or those unattractive age spots. Also known as “those things we all try to avoid like the plague!”

The June issue of European Men’s Health Magazine mentions OLEHENRIKSEN’s hands forward creme as a way great way to impress the ladies! They talk about how a swanky restaurant and smooth moves will come to nothing if your hands look like they’ve gone toe-to-toe with a meat grinder!

And let me tell you – it’s true! For a man, your hands signal to us ladies how well you take care of yourself!

“The hands are always exposed to the elements on a daily basis and therefore are more prone to showing the signs of aging if not properly cared for,” says Ole, “and if you want to tell a person’s true age, all you need to do is look at their hands!”

Here at OLEHENRIKSEN our hands forward creme – SPF 15 is a sun care product specifically designed for your hands! Not only does the hands forward creme soften and smooth your skin with shea butter, but it also stimulates cell renewal with sugar maple extract.

Now, are you sitting down for this one? One of the main ingredients in the hands forward creme is kojic acid which is known to fade discoloration, even skin tone and correct/prevent hyper-pigmentation.

So don’t worry ladies and gents! If you haven’t been using SPF on your hands and you happen to have a little sun damage, our creme can reverse the signs of aging!

How about that for good news on a Wednesday?

Have you ever looked at a celebrity like Eva Mendes and asked yourself how she gets her skin to be so absolutely perfect? Well, look no further for the answer! Eva swears by OLEHENRIKSEN products like our blue/black berry enzyme mask to slough off any lingering dry patches in the January 2010 issue of ASOS magazine.

“Exfoliating is one of the best investments you can make for your skin’s future,” says Ole. There are so many benefits! Exfoliating helps oxygenate the skin, helps with blood circulation, skin cell turn-over and contributing to that stunning natural glow!

After using the product last night, I couldn't wait to spotlight the mask today! Not only did it completely eradicate any dry skin on my face, but it really calmed any irritation issues I was having! I stepped into the office thanking my lucky stars and asking myself why I didn’t use the product earlier! Now I can go out tonight feeling confident that my skin is looking the best it has looked in the longest time! What a treat!

The blue/black berry enzyme mask contains papaya enzyme, which gets rid of those dead skin cells, hyaluronic acid which powerfully binds moisture to the skin, and lavender extract which acts as an anti-inflammatory! Let’s not forget the showcase ingredient—blue/blackberry extract! This ingredient helps with oxygenating, smoothing and refining the skin's texture.

You’ll want to apply a generous layer of the mask on freshly cleansed skin, leave it on for 20 minutes, rinse with warm water and have an "ah-ha moment!"

Have you tried our blue/blackberry enzyme mask before? Well, now you can! Our gift to you this month is a free 1oz blue/black berry enzyme mask with the purchase of any two products on our website! Enter the code: HYDRATE at check out. Now, go get your fabulous on!

This Mother’s day we want to encourage our readers to look back on their fondest memories of their mothers, as well as creating new ones.

Ole recalls his most treasured memory of his mother Anny saying, “I remember my mother would sing up a storm while doing laundry in the cellar while I played ball outside. I loved hearing her magnificent voice because it created such a warm and loving environment.”

According to Ole, a mother’s day gift is all about giving her the things she may not think of buying herself. Check out Ole’s favorite products to gift with mom’s in mind.

The rub n’ buff salt scrub is perfect for pampering after a long day.

The feel the difference mask is a great way for your mom to give herself a pick me up while lifting and firming her skin all at once.

“My mother’s favorite OLEHENRIKSEN product is the pure perfection crème for it’s rich and luxurious texture,” says Ole. “She applies it faithfully every night.”

Our OLEHENRIKSEN 3 little wonders kit is one of our best sellers because ladies across the nation love its abilities to transform skin into a brighter and tighter complexion.

Another favorite of Ole’s mother is the black currant complexion oil. “My mother treasures this products because it is so comforting and soothing against the cold weather,” says Ole. “She always raves about the beautiful aroma.”

Don’t forget that this month all of our crème’s are 20% off, and you can receive a free blue/blackberry complexion mask when you purchase any two products from OLEHENRIKSEN.com. Just enter promo code HYDRATE upon checkout. What a great way to spoil the mothers in your life!

What are some of your mother’s favorite OLEHENRIKSEN products and do you have any Mother’s Day traditions you look forward to? Let us know in the comments below!

African red tea, also known as Roobois, is an ingredient that graces many of our most popular products like our award winning african red tea self heating body soufflé as well as spa treatments like our african red tea body cocktail.

Inquiring minds want to know: what makes african red tea such an effective ingredient? Well, I’m glad you asked! Ole has always said, “Nature + Science = Perfect Skin” and african red tea is an outstanding source of naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that provide your body’s largest organ with everything it needs to be healthy.

Found in Cape Town, South Africa, we like to think of african red tea as vitamins for the skin! The free-radical preventing properties of african red tea are 50X more potent than those of green tea, making it exceptional in its ability to repair the skin with superior anti-aging, firming, exfoliating and oxygenating benefits. Not to mention, it is rich in many absorbable nutrients such as iron, potassium, calcium, copper, zinc, magnesium, and fluoride, which organically contribute to your overall well-being.

To me, the coolest part about this ingredient is that it contains natural alpha-hydroxy acids; these acids act as a gentle way to thoroughly exfoliate the skin and reconnect you with that soft, baby skin of yours (yes, please)!

Our clients are raving about our african red tea based treatments and products for their beautiful citrus aromas, and scrumptious results – who wouldn’t want a healthy, fresh and youthful body on the inside and out? We invite you to visit our spa and indulge yourself in an african red tea treatment—we’ll even serve you african red tea in our relaxation room. Ole loves it and we know you will too!

Have questions or comments on african red tea? Want to know more? Ask away in the comments below!

Honey, organic sugar, pomegranate and grapefruit juice — these aren’t the ingredients to a bakery treat, but for Ole Henriksen’s new all natural sugar glow face scrub.

“The popularity of the african red tea exotic body scrub prompted me to develop a product that incorporated sugar and honey for the face,” says Ole. “After seeing the results my clients received with their body scrub, I knew that creating the sugar glow face scrub, would allow the same anti-aging and gentle exfoliation benefits for their face as well.”

The pomegranate seeds and raw organic sugar act as an exfoliant to dislodge dead skin cells for dry aging skin that may be too sensitive for harsher scrubs. Meanwhile, the honey and citrus juices work to polish the skin leaving skin hydrated and luminous.

Having had acne prone skin I have used many different chemically based exfoliants that leave my skin over dried, raw and flakey. What I liked most about using a scrub with all natural ingredients is that it left my skin feeling soft and better prepared for my moisturizer.

Go ahead, this is the one time you can judge a product by its cover, the sugar really does make your skin glow.

Los Angeles may be known for sexy celebrities and glamour, but it's also known as one of the smoggiest cities in America. After living in LA for six years, I started to wonder if smog was having an effect on my skin. Could the air I breathe really be harming my complexion? According to skin care expert Ole Henriksen, a toxic environment can have a tremendous impact on the skin. “There is no doubt that the particles contained in smog and pollution are so tiny that they can be absorbed through the skin,” says Ole. So what can we do about it?

“You can help neutralize the damage from pollutants with skin care formulations that have adequate concentrations of antioxidants like Vitamin A, E, D and C and antioxidants like superoxide dismutase,” says Ole. As for prevention, essential fatty acids (EFAs) are the way to go. “Soothing extracts with EFAs help protect the skin from damage and boost resistance,” he says. Look for natural products that contain african red tea, green tea, avocado, grapeseed or black currant compounds for best results. Ole recommends the following products for repair and prevention.

Repair

african red tea foaming cleanser

african red tea see the difference serum

express the truth wrinkle resistance crème

Prevent

truth serum

sheer transformation

herbal day crème

Aside from topical solutions, you can also take a combat the harmful effects of environmental stressors from the inside out. “When you eat a healthy diet and get proper nutrients and minerals, good fats, you are additionally safeguarding against damage,” says Ole. “Take good care of yourself across the board and you don’t have to worry.”

It's one of this year’s most popular New Year’s resolutions and one of the most challenging addictions to overcome. It kills over 440,000 people each year and causes a string of health conditions that are often irreversible. If you are one of many smokers still trying to kick the habit, you should take note of skin care expert Ole Henriksen’s advice. “Smoking is really one of the greatest disfavors you can do to your body,” says Ole. “You are inhaling toxic fumes, which is damaging to the internal organs and your body’s largest external organ, the skin.” If only it were that easy, we’d all be smoke-free. But, with a little inspiration, you can make your resolution a reality. You just need a little extra motivation. Decide for yourself if the following consequences are enough to help you quit smoking for good.

Premature Wrinkle Formation. If you’d like to avoid looking like a Shar Pei, don’t smoke. “Smoking impacts the skin by constricting the oxygen flow,” says Ole. The oxygen flow is vital to your body’s detoxification process. “As a result, your collagen becomes insoluble, causing wrinkle formation to set in sooner.”

Broken Capillaries. Don’t you just love those little red spots on your face that won’t go away? “Capillary damage happens when toxins strip the skin of vital oxygen, leaving your skin exposed to the elements,” he says.

Dullness. When the body is healthy, with plenty of oxygen and good circulation, the skin is pink and plump. “Smoking prevents this free flow in the body and leaves your skin dull and sallow,” says Ole.

Simply put, smoking is no longer sexy. The good news is that these consequences (including more dangerous ones like cancer and heart disease) can be prevented. Even if you’ve been smoking for years, you can drastically change your health by eliminating tobacco from your life. If you’re finally ready to take the plunge and quit for good, check out cancer.org for helpful tips and inspiration to help you quit smoking for good. Make 2010 the year you finally kick cigarette butt!