SUN RISE MARULA - Day Cream

PRODUCT STORY
Stefanía created Sun Rise Marula as an answer to a question she kept asking herself: what does skin really need to survive — and thrive — in the modern world? Not just moisture, but active defense. Not just SPF, but the deeper biological protection that no sunscreen alone can provide. Formulated with marula oil from the sun-drenched savannas of Africa, a biotech-cultivated Edelweiss stem cell complex, an adaptogenic mushroom blend, and a multi-mechanism anti-pollution botanical complex, this cream was designed to meet urban, coastal, and high-altitude skin with equal intelligence. It is the first step in Ammaterre's full-cycle approach to skin renewal: protect by day, restore by night.

KEY BENEFITS
• Shields skin from urban pollution at the cellular level — the anti-pollution botanical complex forms a physical barrier against PM2.5 particulates while modulating the AhR receptor pathway that pollutants use to trigger inflammation and collagen breakdown
• Edelweiss stem cells reduce visible wrinkle depth up to 3x more effectively than placebo (p<0.05, in vivo), with a clinical reduction in skin sagging of up to 56% in the neck area and crow's feet reduction of up to 75% after 6 weeks
• Boosts Collagen Type I by 111% — Edelweiss stem cells stimulate collagen synthesis at this magnitude in vitro, while simultaneously inhibiting collagen glycation (the sugar-driven stiffening and yellowing of collagen with age)
• Mushroom polysaccharides plump and hydrate — Tremella mushroom holds up to 500 times its weight in water, delivering hyaluronic acid-comparable hydration with the added benefit of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity; the full mushroom blend stimulates fibroblasts to produce new collagen
• Vitamins C and E deliver 4x greater photoprotection in combination than either alone — Vitamin E protects cell membranes from lipid oxidation while Vitamin C continuously regenerates oxidized Vitamin E, creating a self-reinforcing antioxidant system
• Marula's oleic acid (69–73%) drives actives deeper — acting as a natural penetration enhancer, it opens transient channels in the stratum corneum that allow every other active ingredient in this formula to reach the living skin layers where change actually happens

HERO INGREDIENTS
Marula Oil (Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil)
The anchor of the entire Ammaterre system, marula brings clinically validated hydration, anti-inflammatory action, and the unique ability to deliver co-applied ingredients deeper into the skin. With antioxidant stability roughly ten times greater than olive oil, it maintains its protective activity throughout the day without oxidizing on the skin or in the formula. Non-comedogenic and biomimetic — meaning the skin recognizes it as structurally similar to its own lipids and absorbs it without resistance.
Edelweiss Stem Cells (Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract)
Edelweiss survives at altitudes above 3,000 meters, where UV radiation and oxidative stress would destroy most organisms. The protective phytochemical machinery it evolved to endure those conditions — particularly leontopodic acid, chlorogenic acid, and a suite of flavonoids — translates into exceptional skin protection when applied topically. The stem cell extraction method (in vitro callus culture) concentrates these bioactives at their most potent while protecting wild edelweiss populations from over-harvesting.
Clinical evidence includes a 111% increase in Collagen Type I, a 55% reduction in advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), and wrinkle reduction 3 times greater than placebo in glabellar lines (p<0.05).
Mushroom Blend (Tremella Fuciformis, Ganoderma Lucidum, Lentinula Edodes Extracts)
This is skincare's most underrated ingredient category. Tremella mushroom (Snow Mushroom) delivers hydration comparable to hyaluronic acid but with a smaller molecular size that penetrates deeper into the dermis. Reishi mushroom contains over 400 bioactive compounds, including triterpenoids that measurably reduce TNF-α and COX-2 — the same inflammatory markers that anti-inflammatory medications target.
Shiitake contributes kojic acid, a proven tyrosinase inhibitor that brightens uneven tone. Together, the blend stimulates collagen production, inhibits collagen-degrading enzymes (collagenase), strengthens the skin barrier, and adapts the skin's stress response to environmental stressors.

Vitamins C & E (Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate / Tocopherol)
A dual antioxidant system with clinical synergy: combined C+E delivers 4x greater photoprotection than either ingredient alone. Vitamin C works in the aqueous (water-based) compartment of the skin cell; Vitamin E works in the lipid membrane. Vitamin C simultaneously regenerates Vitamin E after it has neutralized a free radical, so the antioxidant cycle continues without depletion. Vitamin C also provides the collagen synthesis benefit outlined above; Vitamin E has demonstrated a 18.9% increase in dermal thickness (measured by ultrasound after 8–12 weeks of daily use).
Anti-Pollution Botanical Complex
A curated blend of botanical actives targeting the full spectrum of modern environmental stressors: particulate matter (PM2.5), heavy metals, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, blue light (HEV), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The complex works through three complementary mechanisms: (1) physical barrier film-forming agents that prevent pollutant adhesion to skin; (2) antioxidant actives that neutralize ROS generated by pollutants before they reach the DNA; and (3) AhR pathway modulators that interrupt the inflammatory cascade at the cellular signaling level — blocking the mechanism by which pollutants accelerate collagen degradation.

HOW TO USE
1. Cleanse your face with your preferred cleanser. Pat dry.
2. Optional — apply Aceite Marula y Vitamina C first: Dispense 3– drops, press into skin, and allow 1–2 minutes to absorb. This step amplifies the entire morning routine.
3. Dispense a small amount of Sun Rise Marula Day Cream — approximately a pea-sized amount for the face, a little more if extending to neck and décolletage. For 50mL, this product typically yields 60–90 morning applications.
4. Apply in upward, lifting motions — start at the center of the face and work outward toward the hairline and jawline. Do not pull downward.
5. Include the neck and décolletage — these areas age at the same rate as the face and deserve the same attention.
6. Follow with SPF 30+ — the anti-pollution complex provides significant antioxidant defense but does not replace UV protection. Apply SPF as your final morning step.
7. Do not mix with your SPF in the palm before applying — apply separately to ensure both products work as intended.

EXPECTED RESULTS TIMELINE
Weeks 1–2: Comfort and Glow
Skin hydration noticeably improves within the first few uses. The mushroom polysaccharides and marula oil establish a deep moisture reserve that skin begins to draw on throughout the day. By the end of week two, skin tone appears more even and the complexion has a natural luminosity — the "well-rested" glow that comes from a functioning, well-nourished skin barrier.
Weeks 3–4: Firmness and Refinement
The Edelweiss stem cell complex begins to show firming and lifting effects, particularly around the jaw, cheeks, and neck. Pores appear more refined. Fine surface lines smooth as hydration reaches the deeper layers. Vitamin C and the anti-pollution complex have now meaningfully reduced accumulated free radical activity from daily environmental exposure.
Weeks 6–8: Visible Structural Improvement
Skin sagging is visibly reduced. Wrinkle depth decreases measurably — particularly around the eyes and forehead, which tend to respond first to Edelweiss's anti-glycation activity. Collagen synthesis has been amplified for weeks; the result is skin that looks and feels denser, more resilient, and younger in a way that holds across the full day rather than only after application.

Founder's Note

"Sun Rise is the moment my skin awakens. After my pregnancies and years under demanding lights, I needed a day cream that gave me back radiance without compromising what I carry inside. This was that answer."

— Stefanía Fernández, Miss Universe 2009